TACLOBAN CITY -- At least 33 of the 41 towns in Leyte province have been declared drug-cleared by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) as of this week.
These towns are Alangalang, Babatngon, Burauen, Barugo, Baybay, Calubian, Capoocan, Carigara, Hilongos, Hindang, Inopacan, Isabel, Jaro, Javier, Julita, Lapaz, Leyte, Mahaplag, Matag-ob, Matalom, Mayorga, Merida, Palompon, Pastrana, San Isidro, Sta. Fe, San Miguel, Tabango, Tabontabon, Tunga, Tolosa, Villaba, and Tanauan.
PDEA assistant regional director Eduardo Macabenta IV said a town must comply with the parameters set by the Dangerous Drugs Board to be included on the drug-cleared list.
The area also undergoes a series of validation by the provincial oversight committee composed of the governor, key PDEA officials, provincial health office, police provincial office, and the Department of the Interior and Local Government provincial office.
Other parameters include non-availability or no presence of drug supply, drug pushers, users, coddlers, financier's drug shipment activity, laboratory, warehouse, den, and marijuana cultivation. The area must also have existing drug awareness campaign; and voluntary and compulsory drug treatment and rehabilitation program.
“It is not easy to achieve the certification, most especially with the narco-list issued by President Rodrigo Duterte or what we call now the Inter-agency drug identification database list, but the local government has to show that they are serious in this campaign,” Macabenta said.
The towns that have not yet been declared as drug-cleared are Abuyog, Albuera, Bato, Dagami, Dulag, Kananga, MacArthur, and Palo.
The province has 1,393 villages with 1,022 are listed as drug-affected and 889 villages as drug-cleared.
PDEA has been stepping up its drive against illegal drugs in the region. From January to November this year alone, drug operatives have seized a total of 102.36 grams of shabu and 192.42 grams of marijuana.
The volume is more than the 85.67 grams of shabu and 12.98 grams of marijuana recovered by PDEA agents in 2018. (PNA)