PDEA-NIR says 75% of Negros Island villages drug-cleared

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency–Negros Island Region (PDEA-NIR) reported that 75.38% of the region’s barangays were classified as drug-cleared as of October.

Out of 1,353 barangays across Negros Island, 1,020 have been declared either drug-cleared or drug-free, according to figures presented Wednesday during the third deliberation of the Regional Oversight Committee on Barangay Drug Clearing in Silay City, Negros Occidental.

Siquijor recorded a 100% drug-cleared status, with all 134 barangays — 107 classified as drug-cleared and 27 as drug-free — meeting the committee’s criteria across its six local government units.

Negros Occidental cleared 527 out of 601 barangays, or 87.69%, consisting of 515 drug-cleared and 12 drug-free villages.

The province still has 74 uncleared barangays, or 12.31%.

Negros Oriental recorded 337 cleared barangays — 284 drug-cleared and 53 drug-free — out of 557, for a total of 60.50%.

The province still has 220 uncleared villages, or 39.50%.

In Bacolod City, 22 out of 61 barangays, or 36.06%, have been cleared.

A total of 39 barangays in the city, or 63.94%, have yet to meet the requirements.

Across the region, 541 barangays retained their drug-cleared status.

During the oversight committee deliberation, 319 barangays were validated for retention of their cleared status, including 19 in Bacolod City, 275 in Negros Occidental, three in Negros Oriental, and 22 in Siquijor.

The committee also validated 58 drug-free barangays — five in Negros Occidental, 27 in Negros Oriental, and 26 in Siquijor.

Fifteen newly identified drug-free barangays with no active drug personalities were recognized — seven in Negros Occidental and eight in Negros Oriental.

PDEA-NIR Acting Regional Director Melvin Estoque said drug-cleared barangays are those previously affected by illegal drugs but have completed the drug-clearing program, including intervention for identified drug personalities and successful committee deliberation.

He said drug-free barangays are those with no recorded drug personalities or illegal drug activities and have remained unaffected, as confirmed through committee validation.

The Regional Oversight Committee on Barangay Drug Clearing is an interagency body that assesses, validates, and confirms the drug status of barangays, with members from PDEA, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Department of Health, the Philippine National Police, and concerned local government units.