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[av_heading heading=’ PDEA: 31 villages in WV cleared of illegal drugs ‘ tag=’h3′ style=’blockquote modern-quote’ size=” subheading_active=’subheading_below’ subheading_size=’15’ padding=’10’ color=” custom_font=” av-medium-font-size-title=” av-small-font-size-title=” av-mini-font-size-title=” av-medium-font-size=” av-small-font-size=” av-mini-font-size=” admin_preview_bg=”]
BY RUBY P. SILUBRICO
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ILOILO City – Thirty-one barangays in three municipalities and this city have been declared cleared of illegal drugs, according to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Region 6.
Two of the municipalities were in Iloilo province (Oton and Mina) and the other was in the island province of Guimaras (Sibunag), said PDEA-6 director Wardley Getalla.
Of Oton’s 37 barangays, nine were considered drug-cleared while in Mina which has 22 barangays, there were six.
In Sibunag which has 14 barangays, only one has yet to be cleared of illegal drugs, said Getalla.
In this city of 180 barangays, on the other hand, only three have so far been declared as free from illegal drugs. These were Santa Isabel and Luna both in Jaro district and Sampaguita in the City Proper.
Coming up with such declaration was not of PDEA-6’s making alone. Getalla said the police, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Health, and Barangay Anti-Drug Councils vetted the barangays.
“Perhaps more would be cleared in the coming weeks,” said Getalla.
A barangay is considered cleared of illegal drugs if it meets the following criteria:
* non-availability of illegal drugs
* absence of drug transshipment activity, clandestine drug laboratory, drug warehouse, clandestine chemical warehouse, marijuana cultivation, drug den, drug pusher, drug user/drug dependent, protector/financier and coddler
Getalla said keeping a barangay free from illegal drugs should be a constant concern of its officials.
“Once may presence ng mga drug personalities in a cleared barangay, mawawala ang declaration natin at ide-declare natin na hindi na naman clear. So dapat ma-maintain natin. Ang barangay officials dapat nakabantay,” said Getalla./PN
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