DRUG-FREE. Six villages in Pasay City were declared free from the influence of illegal drugs in a recognition ceremony at the Pasay City Hall grounds on Monday (March 7, 2022). Pasay Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano (holding a certificate) was joined by officials of Barangay 38, 88, 96, 112, 155, and 163. (Photo courtesy of Ariel Gatchalian/Pasay-PIO)
MANILA – Aside from bringing down its active Covid-19 cases to a single digit, the Pasay City government is also eradicating illegal drugs.
In a recognition ceremony at the Pasay City Hall grounds on Monday, certificates were awarded to Barangays 38, 88, 96, 112, 155, and 163 for getting rid of users and dealers of illegal substances.
"All forms of crimes and criminality, especially the use of illegal drugs, should be addressed by our city to attain true progress. Peace and order must always prevail,” Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano said during the awarding ceremony shared online.
Under the city's Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program, the drug-free villages will be monitored further by the Pasay City Anti-Drug Abuse Council, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Philippine National Police, Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the Department of Health to make sure they would sustain the gains of their fight against illegal drugs.
The PDEA declared 24,253 villages nationwide drug-free as of 2021.
In its consolidated report, the PDEA said it has dismantled 993 drug dens and 18 clandestine shabu laboratories during the term of President Rodrigo Duterte.
From July 2016 to December 2021, a total of 6,225 drug suspects were neutralized and 4,110 minors were arrested in 224,215 anti-illegal drug operations.
After court proceedings, the rescued minors were brought to Bahay Pag-Asa (House of Hope) centers in local government units for short-term residential care.
They were later turned over to the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Active Covid-19 cases in Pasay City, meanwhile, were down to 7 as of Monday.
Out of 201 villages, only Barangays 32, 76, 119, 121, 171, 183, and 190 have one active case each.
There have only been two deaths since February 22, with the overall count at 585 out of 28,810 total cases.
The city has also administered 732,728 Covid-19 vaccine doses to its residents, 325,264 of whom have complete primary doses. (PNA)
