• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) reported that 10 local government units (LGUs) in Negros Occidental have maintained their status as drug-cleared as of Oct. 22 this year.
Records indicated that the 195 barangays of E.B. Magalona, Binalbagan, Isabela, Manapla, Pontevedra, Pulupandan and the cities of Bago, Silay, Sipalay and Victorias, remained drug-cleared.
This is based on the presentation of PDEA-Negros Occidental during the 4th quarter joint meeting of the Provincial Development Council, Provincial Peace and Order Council, and Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council held at the Capitol Social Hall in Bacolod City on Wednesday, Dec. 3.
Only Siquijor, which has 42 barangays, was declared drug-cleared by the PDEA among the three provinces in Negros Island Region.
PDEA records further showed that 87.69 percent of the 601 barangays in Negros Occidental are declared as drug-cleared.
In highly urbanized Bacolod City, 36.06 percent of the 61 barangays are cleared from illegal drugs.
Of the 557 barangays in Negros Oriental, 60.50 percent of the villages are drug-cleared.
PDEA said these barangays underwent the Barangay Drug Clearing Program and were declared drug-cleared by the Regional Oversight Committee on Barangay Drug Clearing after careful deliberation and validation.
A barangay is declared drug-cleared upon satisfying the parameters outlined in Dangerous Drugs Board Regulation 4, Series of 2021. | GB
