LA LIBERTAD, Negros Oriental, May 25 (PIA) -- Thirteen barangays here have been recently declared as “drug-cleared” after careful deliberation of the Regional Oversight Committee on Barangay Drug Clearing (ROCBDC).

These barangays are Talaon, Manluminsag, Mapalasan, Kansumandig, Pitogo, Bigaa, Busilac, Talayong, Eli, Aya, Martilo, Manghulyawon, and Cangabo.

The ROCBDC declared these barangays as cleared from illegal drug affectation after they satisfied the parameters set by Sec. 8 of the Dangerous Drugs Board Board (DDB) Resolution No. 3 s. 2017.

Part of the parameters include non-availability of drug supply, absence of drug transit or transshipment activity, absence of clandestine drug laboratory, absence of clandestine drug warehouse, absence of marijuana cultivation site, absence of a drug den, absence of drug pusher and drug user, active involvement of barangay and SK officials in the anti-illegal drug campaign, and existence of preventive education, information campaigns, and drug treatment and rehabilitation desks.

ROCBDC conducted its deliberations in Dumaguete City last month.

Poilice Capt. Mark Anthony Apsay of the La Liberetad Municipal Police Station welcomed this accomplishment.

"First magpasalamat ko sa LGU La Libertad headed by Mayor Emmanuel Iway, Former Chief of Police (COP) Vann Joe Tingson, DILG, and the barangay captains and barangay officials. Nagpasabot pud ni nga ang mga tawo sa La Libertad, nagpalayo na gyud sa illegal nga droga, based pud sa effort sa barangay captains and barangay officials (First, I would like to thank LGU-La Libertad headed by Mayor Emmanuel Iway, former COP Van Joe Tingson, DILG, and the barangay captain and barangay officials. This would mean that the people of La Libertad are strongly against the use of illegal drugs based also on the efforts of barangay captains and barangay officials),” Apsay said.

The declaration of drug-cleared status over the said barangays is a significant accomplishment following the previous declarations of Brgy. Pangca as a drug-free barangay in September 2021 and Brgy. Mambulod as a drug-cleared barangay in May 2022.

La Libertad Police Station is aiming to attain a 100% drug-cleared status for the municipality.

The Municipal Anti-Drug Abuse Council (MADAC), which was instrumental in achieving this accomplishment, is led by its Chairman, Mayor Emmanuel Iway, and its council members, Vice Mayor Lawrence Dy Limkaichong, Sangguniang Bayan Members, and barangay officials, together with the La Libertad PCR PNP, Chief of Police P/Major Vann Joel Tingson, Rural Health Unit and coordinated by the Municipal Local Government Operations Office. (RAL/PIA7 Negros Oriental with reports from MaryJune Enriquez, MPIO)