5 ‘drug-cleared’ barangays in Naga get cash reward

CEBU, Philippines —  At least five barangays in the City of Naga, Cebu that have been declared as “drug cleared” were given cash incentives by the city government.

Naga City Mayor Kristine Vanessa Chiong turned over the P100,000 cash incentive each to barangays Mayana, East Poblacion, Bairan, Uling and Cantao-an.

“Ang paghatag sa cash incentive agi og support sa city government sa mga Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (BADAC) sa pagpatuman nila sa ilang anti-drug programs,” read the City Government of Naga, Cebu Facebook page post on February 7, 2022.

The five barangays were able to comply with the parameters set by the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) in declaring a barangay “drug cleared” in line with the government's anti-drug program.

The declaration was made by the Regional Oversight Committee chaired by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

Base on the DDB regulation, a barangay can be declared as drug-cleared if it passes the following parameters: non-availability of drug supply; absence of drug transit/transshipment activity; absence of clandestine drug laboratory, warehouse and chemical warehouse; absence of marijuana cultivation site; absence of drug den, dive or resort; absence of drug pusher, user or dependent and protector/coddler and financier.

Barangay officials must be also active in the anti-drug activities, including the Sangguniang Kabataan, “to help maintain the drug-liberated status of the barangay.”

There must also exist drug awareness, preventive education and information including the voluntary and compulsory drug treatment and rehabilitation processing desk. — GMR (FREEMAN)