Four more barangays in the city are now cleared from illegal drugs this year, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) XI said.
With this, the city now has 64 drug-free barangays, reducing the drug-affected barangays to 118.
Nephi Noli Dimaandal, PDEA XI spokesperson, yesterday said the barangays of Saloy in Calinan District and Inayangan in Marilog District were declared drug-cleared last Nov. 11. The barangays of Sirib and Dacudao, both in Calinan District, were declared last May 30.
Dimaandal said under Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) Regulation No. 3 series of 2017, a barangay may be declared as “drug-cleared” if there is non-availability of drug supply; absence of drug den, pusher, user; absence of clandestine drug laboratory; active involvement of barangay officials in anti-drug activities; existence of drug awareness, preventive education and information; and existence of voluntary and compulsory drug treatment and rehabilitation processing desk.
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) said the DDB regulation also prescribes the three-phase clearing of drug-affected barangays starting with the “pre-operation phase” or laying of groundwork and bases for effective and sustainable clearing operations.
