CEBU, Philippines — A total of 58 barangays in Central Visayas have been declared drug-cleared while another five drug-free following the most recent deliberation of the Regional Oversight Committee on Barangay Drug Clearing (ROCBDC).
These 58 barangays include 11 from Siquijor; six from Bohol province; at least 14 from Negros Oriental; one from Mandaue City; one from Lapu-Lapu City; three from Cebu City; and 22 areas from Cebu province.
Meanwhile, two areas from Negros Oriental and three from Cebu province have been declared drug-free.
The applications of these barangays were deliberated on last September 28 to 29 with Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-7 director Levi Ortiz spearheading the proceedings as ROCBDC chairman.
Leia Albiar, PDEA-7 spokesperson said that the most recent deliberation has been meaningful since there were applicants that were from the highly-urbanized areas such as Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, and Cebu City.
“This simply means that the barangay drug-clearing program is effective and it's doable even in the highly-urbanized areas kay mao man gud na kasagaran iingon sa mga critiques nga imposible kaayo na buhaton sa cities,” said Albiar.
Albiar said that this has been possible with the participation and coordination of the local chief executives and the barangay officials, along with the rehabilitation programs offered under the barangay drug-clearing program.
She added that this also means that the campaign against illegal drugs is moving forward.
Under the barangay drug-clearing program, the application normally takes up to a year before it could be considered in the deliberation. Albiar said this timeframe would include accounting all the names listed in the watchlist and enrolling them the rehabilitation program thus graduating from it onwards.
“Inig apply ana nila (barangays) sa deliberation, kompleto na na, naka-graduate na na ilang mga drug personality. Ang ilahang documentary requirements in place na,” she said.
Aside from this the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) will also monitor the barangays on their other activities to combat illegal drugs.
“Isa sad na sa gitan-aw nato kung duna ba silay mga demand reduction activities sa other sector sa ilang community, apil na ilahang submit-tan og reports,” said Albiar. — KQD (FREEMAN)