LEGAZPI CITY – The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has declared three more towns and six barangays in the Bicol region as drug-cleared under the Barangay Drug Clearing Program (BDCP).
In an interview, PDEA 5 (Bicol) information officer Carlo Fernandez III said Wednesday that Manito and Malinao towns in Albay province, and Gigmoto in Catanduanes, as well as six barangays in Camarines Sur and Sorsogon provinces, passed the deliberation and assessment of the Regional Oversight Committee.
He said this brings to 40 the total number of drug-cleared municipalities and one city in the Bicol region.
Meanwhile, 2,357 of the 3,471 barangays in the region were declared drug-cleared, 678 were drug-free, and 436 were drug-affected.
"The next Regional Oversight Committee meeting will be on July 18, 2024, and as of now, nag-aayos pa po ng submitted application papers to see kung ilan ang mag qualify (the submitted application papers are still being processed to see how many would qualify)," Fernandez said.
He clarified that drug-cleared barangays are different from drug-free barangays.
"Drug-cleared means a barangay was previously classified as drug-affected. There were known persons who used drugs (PWUDs) in their area and were subjected to drug-clearing operations and declared cleared from any illegal drug activities pursuant to the parameters set by law that include non-availability of drug supply. Drug-free means that the area was never drug-affected to begin with," he explained.
To be declared drug-cleared, a barangay must meet the following parameters: non-availability of drugs; absence of drug transit; absence of clandestine drug laboratories, warehouses, chemical warehouses, and drug dens; and absence of drug pushers and user protection.
The barangays must also have anti-drug activities, drug awareness, preventive education and information, and voluntary and compulsory drug treatment and rehabilitation centers.
Meanwhile, PDEA-5 Director Edgar Jubay said they are committed to creating a drug-free Bicol for the betterment and security of people and communities.
"Let's not get tired of monitoring our area and cooperate with our agents and policemen if we need to do drug clearing. Once we have ensured that there is no more drug affectation, we will work together to complete the requirements to declare your area drug-cleared. That is our role and the mission of PDEA," he said in a statement. (PNA)
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