Four barangays in city now drug cleared

By: Emme Rose Santiagudo

DEPARTMENT of Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Iloilo City head Ferdinand Panes confirmed that Brgy. Quezon in Arevalo district is now “drug-cleared,” the fourth to earn such tag in the city.

“There was one barangay that was declared as drug cleared and that is Barangay Quezon in Arevalo. It’s good news for us,” Panes said.

According to Panes, two other barangays – Housing Block 17 and Pali in Mandurriao district – also applied for clearance but they failed.

Barangays Libertad and Luna in Jaro district and Sampaguita in City Proper district were the first three barangays in the city to earn the drug-cleared status from the Regional Oversight Committee on Barangay Drug-Clearing Operation.

The declaration was issued more than a year since the administration started its war against illegal drugs.

Regional Oversight Committee explained that the drug-cleared barangays have complied with the parameters set in Section 6 of Dangerous Drugs Board Regulation No. 3, Series of 2017.

These are:

-no available drug supply;

-the absence of drug transit/transhipment activity, clandestine drug laboratory, drug warehouse, clandestine chemical warehouse, marijuana cultivation site, drug den, dive, or resort, drug pusher, drug user/dependent, protector/coddler, and financier;

-active involvement of barangay officials in anti-drug activities;

-the existence of drug awareness, preventive education and information and programs; and

-existence of voluntary and compulsory drug treatment and rehabilitation processing desk.

In relation to the anti-drugs campaign, Iloilo City was recently cited as one of the 241 local government units (LGUs) in the country recipient of the National Anti-Drug Abuse Council Performance (ADAC) Award.

Mayor Jose Espinosa III, who attended the awarding ceremony on Dec 28, 2018 at Manila Hotel, said that Iloilo City is the only LGU in Western Visayas to receive the award.

“First ever ni nga award sa anti-drugs campaign and solo ang Iloilo City sa Western Visayas nga nakabaton sang sini nga award. This is a manifestation that Iloilo City’s (ICADAC) is functioning well and that we at the council are doing our best in order to sustain our drive against illegal drugs,” Espinosa said.

The National ADAC Performance Award, which is conferred by DILG, recognizes LGUs that achieved an adjectival rating of ideal or high functionality based on the 2017 ADAC Performance Audit.

Under the ADAC Performance Audit, several factors are measured such as composition, functionality, financial capabilities, and accomplishments of ADACs in different levels of the LGUs.

The accomplishment of ADACs would include drug clearing operations, community-based rehabilitation programs, alongside its financial and physical accomplishments.