DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental, Nov. 22 (PIA) -- Of the 557 barangays in the province, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) here has yet to clear 354 barangays from illegal drugs.

The PDEA reported in a Provincial Peace and order Council (PPOC) meeting that barangay drug affectation remains at 63.55%.

Of the total 218 barangays in the 1st district, only 28 barangays are drug-cleared while 33  are declared drug-free.

For the 2nd district, 51 of the total 174 barangays are drug-cleared and 13 barangays are drug-free.

In the 3rd district, of the total 165 barangays, 71 are drug-cleared and seven are drug-free.

For PDEA, the intensified implementation of the Barangay Drug Clearing Program (BDCP) is an effective tool in the fight against illegal drugs in the province.

Based on records, from July to November 2022, PDEA operations resulted in the confiscation of 106.196 grams of shabu worth P 722,132.8 and the arrest of 17 drug personalities.

BDCP aims to help barangays become drug-resistant and self-policing communities.

Being the most affected province in Central Visayas, the PDEA cited that there is a need to further strengthen the tie-up between law enforcement units and local and national agencies for a more concentrated effort in addressing the drug affectation in each locality.

The PDEA noted some challenges as hundreds of barangays have yet to activate its Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BADAC), while almost the same rate of local government units (LGUs) have inactive municipal and local anti-drug abuse councils.

PDEA recommended for the establishment of Balay Silangan in LGUs to address the number of moderately affected barangays.

These barangays have reached drug-cleared status after issuance of a certification by members of the Oversight Committee on Barangay Drug-Clearing Program.

The Oversight Committee, which is chaired by PDEA, is composed of provincial representatives of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Philippine National Police, Department of Health, and LGUs.

Before declaring a barangay is free from illegal drugs, the committee must convene and validate the non-availability of drug supply in the area and the absence of drug transit activity, clandestine drug laboratory and chemical warehouse, marijuana cultivation site, drug den, and drug pusher and user. (JCT/PIA7 Negros Oriental)