MARAWI CITY, Lanao del Sur (PIA)—The Philippine Drugs Enforcement Agency (PDEA) here in the province is seeing positive results in the continuous implementation of the anti-illegal drugs campaign.
Anthony Naïve I of PDEA said the number of drug-affected barangays in the province is now decreasing because of the barangay drug clearing program.
He reported during the first quarter joint meeting of the Provincial Peace and Order Council and Provincial Anti-Drugs Abuse Council, March 14, that out of the 721 drug-affected barangays of Lanao del Sur, 451 have been declared drug-cleared while 144 are drug-free barangays.
Currently, only 270 barangays remain drug-affected.
Naive said the number of cleared barangays serves as a barometer for measuring how far the government has progressed in its anti-illegal drug drive.
The PDEA officer also disclosed that nine towns have been declared drug-cleared municipalities. Calanogas and Kapatagan were first cleared, followed by the municipalities of Lumbatan, Piagapo, Masiu, Madamba, Pagayawan, Amai Manabilang, and Kapai.
For a town to be declared drug-cleared, Naïve said they are taking into consideration the number of barangays cleared in a municipality and the completion of the training on community-based anti-illegal drug advocacy (CBAIDA) by its BADAC committees. A drug-free workplace program and the establishment of Balay Silangan are also required.
In a related story, the PDEA Lanao del Sur said that they did 20 “buy-bust” operations in the first quarter and seized 250 grams of shabu worth an estimated P1.7 million.
The PDEA underscored that close coordination with the MADACs, BADACs, the Ministry of Interior and Local Government, and other stakeholders was vital in making the barangay drug clearing program more effective and the anti-illegal drive successful.
It further vowed to continue anti-drug operations in the province with the police and army. (APB/PIA-10/Lanao del Sur)
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