CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija – Five villages in Nueva Ecija were declared cleared of illegal drugs amid the government's continuous campaign against the menace, a top-ranking police official said on Wednesday.
Col. Marvin Joe Saro, director of the Nueva Ecija Police Provincial Office (NEPPO), said certificates were awarded to the heads of Barangays Culaylay, Villa Marina, and Pinili in San Jose City: Barangay Inanama in Llanera town, and Barangay Piñahan in Gen. Mamerto Natividad town in simple rites at NEPPO Hostel here on Monday.
As declared and approved by the Regional Oversight Committee on Barangay Drug Clearing Program of Region III, the said villages have "satisfactorily complied with the parameters of a drug-cleared barangay in accordance with the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) Regulation No. 3, Series of 2017," according to the NEPPO information office.
DDB Regulation No. 3, series of 2017 pertains to the strengthening of the implementation of the Barangay Drug Clearing Program.
Records from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) showed that a total of 775 out of the 849 barangays of Nueva Ecija used to be drug-affected.
Of the number, 366 (47.22 percent) were already cleared as of Oct. 5.
Meanwhile, 316 (40.77 percent) are under the process of drug clearing by PDEA and the remaining 93 (12 percent) are under intensified police operations, police said.
Saro, who was joined by PDEA Nueva Ecija officials led by Investigation Agent III Jenylyn Abuela, said the barangay drug clearing program was conducted while observing health protocols imposed by the Inter-Agency Task Force against Covid-19.
He also underscored the government program to rehabilitate drug surrenderers. (PNA)
