PDEA: Nearly 70% of barangays drug-free

MANILA, Philippines — Nearly 70 percent of barangays across the country have been cleared of illegal drugs under the Marcos administration, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency reported yesterday.

The PDEA said 29,390 barangays were declared drug-cleared, which is about 69.97 percent of the over 42,000 barangays nationwide.

Previously classified as drug-affected, the barangays were cleared by the regional oversight committees on barangay drug clearing after deliberations and validation.

The committees are chaired by PDEA regional directors and composed of representatives from the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Philippine National Police, Department of Health and local government units.

President Marcos has deviated from the bloody war on drugs of his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, ordering law enforcement agencies to focus on high-impact operations with emphasis on respect for human rights.

Up to 6,113 barangays or 14,55 percent remain drug-affected, which means they have reported or validated presence of people who use drugs, pushers, drug den maintainers, coddlers, protectors, financiers, cultivators and manufacturers.

The PDEA expressed hope that the Philippines will achieve drug-resistant and self-policing communities by 2030.