PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur – The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has declared 15 barangays in six of the 26 towns and one component city in the province as drug-free villages.
The declaration was made during the Regional Oversight Committee in Barangay Drug-Clearing Program Tuesday at the provincial government center here.
Declared as drug-cleared villages are Bag-ong Oslob, Cabilinan, Inasagan, Kauswagan, and Balintawak in Aurora town; Baluno and Tipange in Dimataling; Panagaan in Mahayag; Sebucao, Anonang, and Bibilik in Dumalinao; Datagan in Guipos; and, Payag, Tubo-pait, and Mabuhay in San Pablo.
PDEA said the parameters before a village can be declared as drug-free include the non-availability of drug supply; absence of drug den, pusher, and user; absence of clandestine drug laboratory; active involvement of barangay officials in anti-drug activities; existence of drug awareness, preventive education and information; and existence of voluntary and compulsory drug treatment and rehabilitation processing desk.
Gov. Victor Yu said he was optimistic to see the entire province declared as drug-free through the cooperation of the village officials and the different law enforcement agencies.
As part of the campaign against illegal drugs, Yu said the provincial government seeks to widen the use of sniffing dogs in all municipal and provincial checkpoints.
So far, six towns in the province have been declared drug-cleared: Sominot, Josefina, Dumingag, Tigbao; Bayog, and Pitogo. (PNA)
