Half of Danao City's brgys now drug-cleared

CEBU, Philippines — At least 21 out of the 42 barangays in Danao City are now drug-cleared after nine of which were cleared from the presence of illegal drugs.

The local government unit, through its official Facebook page, announced that the barangays of Binaliw, Ibo, Malapoc, Manlayag, Mantija, Pili, Sandayong Norte, Sandayong Sur and Togonon were added on the list of drug-cleared barangays in the city, which means half of the barangays in Danao are drug-cleared.

The declaration of a drug-cleared barangays came from the Regional Oversight Committee headed by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) after each barangay successfully submitted and passed the parameters set by the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB).

Danao City Vice Mayor Ramon “Nito” Durano III said this achievement is a result of the collaborative effort of the agencies and offices in their LGU.

“Dakong kalipay ug dungog natong mga Danawanon nga nagkadaghan na ang mga drug cleared barangays sa atong syudad. Our city is now 50% drug-cleared. It is a long way to go. Pero labing importante nga naa nay momentum ang atong mga lihok. I am confident that with our continued unity, we will clear more barangays in the months to come,” Durano said in a statement posted by the LGU on its social media account.

The barangays that were declared as drug-cleared were given a certificate by PDEA and will also be receiving P50,000 cash incentive from the LGU.

DDB regulation states that a barangay can be declared as drug-cleared if it passes the parameters set.

These include the 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 and there must also be a drug awareness, preventive education and information in the community. —GMR (FREEMAN)