At least 3 more barangays are expected to be declared drug-cleared soon, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) reported Monday.

For its barangay clearing program, PDEA Agent Jury Rocamora said the agency is targeting to declare 3 more barangays drug-cleared on February.

“As a matter of fact, we are still having these 3 more barangays as soon as possible not later than February,” Rocamora said.

Efforts to have more drug-cleared barangays will be continuous, noted Rocamora, with the PDEA targeting a total of 20 drug-cleared barangays for 2020.

Recently declared drug-cleared last December were barangays Pasilmanta, Landang Laum, Tictapul and Sibulao, pursuant to Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) Regulation No. 3, series of 2017.

This brings the city’s drug-cleared barangays to 9, with barangays Lumayang, Lanzones, Capisan, Dulian in Upper Pasonanca and Tigbalabag declared drug-cleared last October.

Rocamora affirmed 2019 as a productive year for PDEA’s campaign against illegal drugs. For 2019, Rocamora said PDEA confiscated 18 kilos of shabu with a street value of approximately Php 1 M, and arrested 59 individuals out of 21 operations conducted. According to DDB Regulation 3, 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. (Jasmine Mohammadsali)