ZAMBOANGA CITY–The Regional Oversight Committee on Barangay Drug Clearing Operations announced that 103 barangays have been declared as drug-cleared and drug-free communities here in Region 9.
The oversight committee is chaired by Laurefel Gabales, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) regional director.
The committee members from the Police Regional Office-9 (PRO-9), local government units, and regional offices of the Department of Interior and Local Government and Department of Health.
Chief Insp. Helen Galvez, PRO-9 information officer, on Saturday said the declaration came after the 103 barangays complied with the parameters set forth by the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) as provided in Section 8, DDB Board Regulation No. 3 Series of 2017, otherwise known as “Strengthening the Implementation of the Barangay Drug-Clearing Program.”
The 34 barangays declared as drug-cleared and drug-free are located in eight of the 16 towns in Zamboanga Sibugay.
Galvez said the ceremonial declaration programs was held on Thursday at the gymnasium of Tungawan and Imelda towns.
The 34 barangays declared drug-cleared and drug-free are in the following towns: Tungawan, 11; Titay, two; Buug, six; Diplahan, three; Imelda, six; Naga, two; Siay, two; and, Oluntanga, three.
Galvez said the other 69 barangays declared as drug-cleared are located in six towns in the province of Zamboanga del Sur, which comprises of one component city and 26 municipalities.
The drug-cleared barangays are in the following municipalities: Bayog, five; Lakewood, 12; Tigbao, 17; Dumalinao, 16; Josefina, 14; and, Labangan, five.
Galvez said the declaration ceremonies were separately held from June 11 to 13 in the towns of Bayog, Lakewood, Tigbao, Dumalinao and Josefina.
Gabales explained that the drug-cleared barangays will still be subjected to re-validation and “if the committee will find out that there are still drug users and pushers still operating at the above-mentioned barangay, the Regional Oversight Committee will recall the declaration and they will not be a drug-cleared barangay anymore.”
Among the factors being considered in declaring a barangay as drug-fee are as follows: non-availability of illegal drugs; absence of illegal drug transshipment activity; absence of clandestine illegal drug laboratory; absence of clandestine illegal drug warehouse; absence of clandestine illegal chemical warehouse; absence of marijuana cultivation site; absence of drug den; absence of drug pushers; absence of drug users/dependents; and, absence of protectors/coddlers and financiers.
Galvez said the declaration ceremonies, which were held in separate places and occasions were witnessed by the municipal mayors, chiefs of police, Municipal Anti-Drug Abuse Council (MADAC) and Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BADAC) members. (PNA)
