LAOAG CITY, June 30 (PIA) – The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Ilocos Norte officer said they will strengthen their implementation of anti-illegal drug campaigns, specifically the barangay drug clearing operations and Balay Silangan in the province.
 
During the Joint Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) and Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council (PADAC) Meeting, Intelligence Officer Farlyne Sheen Vinluan presented their latest data and updates on the anti-illegal drug operations of PDEA Ilocos Norte.
 
As of June 2022, all 21 municipalities and two cities of Ilocos Norte are considered drug-affected.
 
Through the barangay drug clearing operations of the provincial PDEA, eight or 34.8% have already been cleared.
 
The municipalities cleared are the towns of Adams, Burgos Carasi, Currimao, Dumalneg, Banna, Marcos, and Vintar.
 
Vinluan clarified that these municipalities need to continuously implement anti-drug advocacy activities for sustainability.
 
Moreover, 525 out of 559 barangays in the province are drug-affected while 382 or 74.42% of these barangays have already been cleared.

Vinluan also reported their drug demand reduction efforts.
 
PDEA has conducted 29 meetings and conferences with other law enforcement agencies and local government units, 22 anti-drug education and information campaigns, and two tri-media activities for the first semester of 2022. 
 
The Intelligence Officer added that they will continue their efforts to rid the province of illegal drugs for a safer province. (JCR/AMB/EJFG, PIA Ilocos Norte)