IPPO aims to clear all ‘drug-affected’ barangays before 2023 ends

By Jennifer P. Rendon 

The Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) believes it can hit 100 percent accomplishment in its drug-clearing efforts in barangays before the year ends.

Major Rolando Araño, IPPO spokesperson, claimed that 1,697, or 98.60 percent of the 1,721 barangays in the province have been cleared of the narcotics problem.

“With 24 barangays left to clear, I think it is possible that we could do it,” Araño said.

As earlier reported, most of the barangays that must be cleared are in Oton town.

The next deliberation of the Regional Oversight Committee (ROC) on Barangay Drug Clearing Program (BDCP) is tentatively on August 31.

Araño added that the series of anti-illegal drug operations will not affect Iloilo province’s bid for 100 percent drug-cleared barangays.

Instead, he seconded the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)’s assessment that the failure of Tokhang surrenders to finish their community-based drug rehabilitation program (CBDRP) hinders the barangays to apply for a drug-cleared status.

For a barangay to be finally declared as “drug-cleared” or officially “unaffected,” it must comply with all the requirements and parameters under Dangerous Drugs Board Regulation No. 3, Series of 2017 on Strengthening the Implementation of BDCP.

These requirements include:

1. Non-availability of drug supply
2. Absence of drug den, pusher, user
3. Absence of clandestine drug laboratory
4. Active involvement of barangay officials in anti-drug activities
5. Existence of drug awareness, preventive education and information
6. Existence of voluntary and compulsory drug treatment and rehabilitation processing desk