Col. Jemuel Siason, director of the South Cotabato Provincial Police Office. (Photo courtesy of the provincial government)
GENERAL SANTOS CITY – Two more barangays (villages) in South Cotabato province have been declared as drug-cleared after being assessed to have effectively contained the illegal drug problem in their areas.
Col. Jemuel Siason, South Cotabato police director, said Monday that Barangays San Isidro in Sto. Niño town and Rizal in Banga town have passed the evaluation of the regional oversight committee in terms of compliance with the government’s barangay drug clearing program.
He said the committee conducted a comprehensive assessment of the anti-drug initiatives of the two barangays in a meeting held in Koronadal City last Oct. 8.
“This is a huge boost to our continuing efforts to address the illegal drug-related activities in our communities,” Siason said in a report.
He attributed the accomplishment to the intensified anti-drug campaigns of police units in partnership with barangay officials and community stakeholders.
As of Monday, 140 of the province’s 199 barangays were already declared as drug-cleared, 51 still under influence and eight considered as unaffected.
Of the area’s 10 municipalities and lone city, at least four -- Tantangan, Tupi, Norala, and Surallah -- have so far achieved drug-cleared status.
Siason said they are continually working with various stakeholders to facilitate the declaration of more barangays as drug-cleared.
He cited the compliance of those still considered as drug-affected to the requirements set under Dangerous Drugs Board Regulation 3 series of 2017, which strengthened the implementation of the barangay drug-clearing program.
These are the “non-availability of drug supply; absence of drug-dependent, pusher, user, absence of clandestine drug laboratory; active involvement of barangay officials in anti-drug activities; existence of drug awareness, preventive education and information programs; and existence of voluntary and compulsory drug treatment and rehabilitation processing desks.”
Siason assured that they properly evaluate and validate the status of the barangays before endorsing their declaration as drug-cleared.
“After the declaration, we’re doing continuous monitoring to ensure that they will maintain their status or there will be no resurgence of illegal drug activities,” he said. (PNA)
