1,057 barangays in Central Visaya now drug-free

CEBU, Philippines — There are now a total of 1,057 barangays in Central Visayas declared drug-cleared and drug-free based on the community-based drug rehabilitation program of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the local government units (LGUs).

PDEA-7 Regional Director Levi Ortiz said that this has been the data as of 2021 among the 3,003 barangays in Region 7.

“Hapit na katunga, dili man gud ni basta-basta ang clearing, this is a very tedious process, after ma drug-cleared nato ang barangay, malipay jud ang LGU kay tungod sa ilang naagian nga kahago,” said Ortiz.

Ortiz said that barangays applying for a drug-clearing certification are mandated to meet with all the requirements, including the completion of the drug-rehabilitation program among the individuals listed in the watchlist.

Ortiz said they were also able to certify a total of 116 “unaffected” barangays or areas that were never infiltrated by illegal drug personalities.

“And until now wala jud so drug-free gyud ni sya kay wa man juy drug personalities, kasagaran sa atong certified na unaffected kay Siquijor, 27 kabuok,” said Ortiz.

Meanwhile, in Cebu City, which was reported to have been 97 percent affected with illegal drugs, Ortiz said there are 11 barangays declared as drug-cleared.

“This is not an easy task considering nga ang Cebu City is the center…before ang affectation si 97 percent,” said Ortiz.

Furthermore, Ortiz said this has been the result of the whole-of-a-nation approach wherein the law enforcers, community and the LGU have united to help one another to achieve the drug-cleared status.

Ortiz emphasized that if an area that was declared drug-cleared has been monitored to have once again infiltrated with illegal drugs, its status could be reverted to being drug affected. — GMR (FREEMAN)