LEGAZPI CITY -- Mayor Noel Rosal on Monday reminded the leaders of villages here that were earlier declared as drug-cleared to prevent the re-entry of illegal drugs and activities in their respective areas.
Rosal, together with Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Assistant Regional Director Rogel Daculla and Legazpi police chief, Lt. Col. Aldwin Gamboa, handed over certificates of appreciation to the 31 barangay chairpersons for their clearance, at the Sangguniang Panlungsod Session Hall.
Rosal commended all the village chiefs as well as the Philippine National Police, PDEA and City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (CADAC) for their effective implementation of the campaign against illegal drugs.
The mayor said the drug-cleared barangays passed the parameters set by the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) which include: having a functional Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BADAC); non-availability of drug supply; absence of drug transshipment activity, clandestine drug laboratory and chemical warehouse, marijuana cultivation site, drug den, drug pusher, protector, coddler and financier; active involvement of barangay officials in anti-drug activities; active involvement of the Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) in helping maintain the drug-liberated status of the barangays; and having an after-care program for drug surrenderers.
Rosal urged the barangay officials to always comply with the declaration's parameters to avoid revocation of the clearance issued by the DDB.
Out of the 70 villages of this city, 48 were already declared as drug-cleared. The first six villages declared as such in November 2018 were Baybay, Cruzada, Imperial Court, Sagpon, Bigaa and Lamba.
Another 11 villages followed in March this year, namely: EM’s Barrio East, Baño, Cabugao, Rizal St. Ilawod, Cabangan West, Bogtong, Dap-Dap, Homapon, Banquerohan, Bagacay and San Francisco.
The newly declared drug-cleared villages last June were Peñaranda, Sabang, San Roque, Victory Village South, Victory Village North, Tinago, Bañadero, Bagumbayan, Cagbacong, Buenavista, Maslog, Mabinit, Matanag, Buyoan, Taysan, EM’s Barrio South, Capantawan, Cabangan, Cabangan East, Dita, Arimbay, Bagong Abre, Rizal, Sagmin, Pinaric, Binanuahan West, Ilawod East, San Joaquin, Padang, Oro Site and Maoyod. (PNA)