The City Government together with the Department of Interior and Local Government and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) last Friday recognized 5 barangays that have been cleared from illegal drugs.

Barangays Lumayang, Lanzones, Capisan, Dulian in Upper Pasonanca and Tigbalabag were honored and presented with rewards for the hard work and efforts exerted by authorities concerned.

Mayor Beng Climaco said the reward of P50, 000 per barangay forms part of the City Government’s support to the anti-illegal drug campaign waged by the national government.

The measures and indicators on declaring drug-cleared barangays are instituted by the DILG and PDEA.

In declaring a barangay free from illegal drug activities, a committee, composed of members of the City Anti-Drug Abuse Council together with the PDEA validates “the non-availability of drug supply in the area and the absence of drug transit activity, clandestine drug laboratory and chemical warehouse, marijuana cultivation site, drug den, drug pushers and users.”

The activation of the Barangay Drug Abuse Councils or BADACs is also crucial in the success of the implementation of the anti-drug campaign.

PDEA Agent Jury Rocamora said the financial reward given to the drug-cleared barangays will be used for various activities, programs and projects related to the anti-drug campaign in the concerned barangay.

The checks for the P50,000 reward were presented to the barangays by Rocamora, Ginagene Vaño-Uy and Jun Cillo of the DILG City Office and Bebot Cortez of the barangay affairs division together Mayor Beng Climaco during the commemorative program for the Zamboanga Hermosa Festival at the Joaquin Enriquez Memorial Sports Complex last October 11.  (Sheila Covarrubias)