The Regional Oversight Committee on Barangay Drug Clearing Program in a joint meeting with its local counterpart recently declared Tolosa, Pamucutan and Pangapuyan as drug-cleared barangays following months of tedious drug clearing process. 

The Regional Oversight committee chaired by PDEA-9 director Emerson Margate and the city oversight committee chaired by Mayor Beng Climaco commended the efforts of the concerned barangays, police stations and their respective Police Community Relations section (PCRs) and other agencies in aggressively pursuing the drug-clearing program.

The 3 barangays are now part of the drug-cleared list that includes Pasilmanta, Landang Laum, Tictapul, Sibulao, Lumayang, Lanzones, Capisan, Dulian in Upper Pasonanca and Tigbalabag.

Pursuant to Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) Regulation No. 3, series of 2017, the parameters in declaring ‘drug-cleared’ status include the non-availability of drug supply; absence of drug transit/ transhipment activity; absence of clandestine laboratory; absence of clandestine drug warehouse; absence of chemical warehouse; absence of marijuana cultivation site; absence of drug den, dive, resort; absence of drug pusher; absence of drug user/ dependent; absence of protector and financier; active involvement of barangay officials in anti-drug activities; active involvement of SK to help maintain the drug-liberated status of the barangays; existence of drug awareness, preventive education and information and other related programs and existence of voluntary and compulsory drug treatment and rehabilitation process desk.

Drug-cleared barangays receive P50K from the city government that will serve as their funds for anti-drug programs. (Sheila Covarrubias)