More Quezon City barangays declared drug-free

MANILA, Philippines — More barangays in Quezon City have been declared drug-free, Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte said yesterday.

Belmonte, who chairs the city’s anti-drug abuse and advisory council, said five more barangays have been included in the list of drug-cleared communities in the city, bringing the total to 30 as of this month.

Declared drug-free by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) were Barangays Dioquino Zobel, Escopa I, Camp Aguinaldo, Blue Ridge B and Ugong Norte, all from district three.

“We have been enhancing our efforts to combat illegal drugs in our city and the number added to our drug-cleared barangays is the result of that,” said Belmonte.

“The next step for these barangays is to help them become drug-resistant so that they can maintain their being drug-cleared,” she added.

To be declared drug-free, a committee must validate the non-availability of the supply of illegal drugs in the barangay; the absence of drug transit, storage, and production operations; and the decline in the number of users and pushers.

Belmonte has repeatedly stressed that addressing the drug problem is one of her priority agenda.

Last week, her office partnered with PDEA to promote a drug-free workplace advocacy program for private establishments such as hotels, restaurants, bars, subdivisions, condominiums and warehouses.