NAGA CITY (PIA) -- Twelve (12) barangays in Naga City have been declared cleared of illegal drugs, according to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Camarines Sur.
In an interview with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)-Camarines Sur, PDEA Camarines Sur Provincial Officer IA V Mark Anthony M. Viray revealed that 15 more barangays in the city remain to be cleared of the illegal substance.
"Our PDEA team in Camarines Sur continues to carry out our responsibility of efficiently implementing the law and ensuring that those who perpetuate this illegal act face the corresponding penalty and the lash of the law," Viray added.
A drug-free status is granted to barangays with historical records of users of illegal drugs or Persons who Used Drugs (PWUDs) as well as traffickers or there is a presence of drug den/s or "tiangge". They had previously been tagged as drug-affected. If the aforementioned elements are all eliminated, these barangays will be labelled as drug-free after validation and fact-checking.
They will then be given a certification from the Oversight Committee on the Barangay Drug-Clearing Program, or BDCP.
According to Viray, the barangays that have previously been certified drug-free include Barangays Bagumbayan Norte, Dinaga, San Francisco, Carolina, Sta. Cruz, Liboton, Panicuason, Tinago, Dayangdang, San isidro, Concepcion Grande and Bagumbayan Sur.
Drug problems though still persists in Barangays Abella, Balatas, Calauag, Cararayan, Concepcion Pequeña, Del Rosario, Igualdad, Lerma, Mabolo, Pacol, Peñafrancia, Sabang, San Felipe, Tabuco and Triangulo.
PDEA conducted a total of 19 operations that successfully resulted to the arrest of 35 drug personalities and confiscation of 3257.064 grams of shabu, with a monetary value of Php22,148,035.20.
Thirty-three (33) cases were filed out of these operations.
PDEA targets supply reduction to break the chain of purchase and distribution. They are also coordinating with the barangays, even with the parish and other organizations to educate the youth on the ill-effects of using drugs. (PIA5/Camarines Sur)
