PDEA-6 clears 45 more villages from illegal drugs

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-6 has declared as drug-cleared 45 more villages in Western Visayas.

The declaration was made during the assessment conducted by the Regional Oversight Committee on Barangay Drug Clearing chaired by acting PDEA-6 regional director Alex Tablate, along with other partner-members, at the Police Regional Office (PRO)-6 headquarters in Iloilo City last Tuesday,

Of the 171 barangays that were assessed, 41 villages were cleared, 1 was duly confirmed as drug-free, and 43 others retained their status as drug-cleared barangays.

The newly declared drug-cleared villages were Astorga, Bungsuan, Janguslob, Nagsulang, Poblacion Ilawon and Poblacion Ilaya (Dumarao); Agloway, Agkilo, Cabangahan and Cabugao (Panitan); Binuntucan, Hipona, Lantangan, Rizal, Tabuc and Tacas (Pontevedra); Cabugao, Cogon and Gabu-an (Roxas City); and San Nicolas (Tapaz) in the province of Capiz.

From Negros Occidental, Abuanan, Antipuluan and Sampinit (Bago City); Barangays Bulata and Yao-yao (Cauayan); Alacaygan (E.B. Magalona); Narauis (Hinigaran); Pook (Hinoba-an); 1, Bocana and Manalad (Ilog); Makilignit and 2 (Isabela); Puso (La Castellana); San Pablo and Punta Salong (Manapla); Buenavista and Iglau-an (Murcia); Sagua Banua and Mabini (Valladolid); Balaring (Silay City); and Zone 14-B (Talisay City) were cleared.

Barangays from the municipalities of San Remigio and Pandan (Antique), Nueva Valencia and San Lorenzo (Guimaras), Jamindan (Capiz) and Malinao, Nabas, Numancia and Tangalan (Aklan) successfully retained their drug-cleared status after passing all parameters of the Barangay Drug Clearing Program mandated by Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) Reg. 4 series of 2021, during the validation process.

PDEA-6 will continue to closely collaborate with the concerned counterparts to increase the number of barangays to be cleared.

As of September, 3,422, or 84.47 percent barangays in the region were declared drug-free, based on the PDEA-6 report.