ILOILO — If the latest data from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) were to be believed, Iloilo Province is on the verge of achieving full drug-cleared status, with only one barangay still awaiting clearance out of its 1,721 barangays.
Data presented to the Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council (PADAC) showed that 1,720 barangays, or 99.94 percent, have already been declared drug-cleared, underscoring what provincial officials described as sustained and coordinated anti-illegal drug efforts across the province.
The update was made by PDEA Iloilo Provincial Officer Nicolas Gomez during the PADAC 4th Quarter Meeting last week.
However, just this weekend, December 20, and Friday last week, December 19, the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) announced having seized around P7.1 million worth of suspected shabu in two separate buy-bust operations.
The Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU) recovered in Barangay Bongco, Pototan on Saturday 900 grams of shabu valued at P6,120,000. And earlier Friday in Barangay Velasco, Lemery town, the police seized 150 grams of shabu worth P1 million.
A barangay can only be declared drug-cleared after undergoing strict validation procedures. These include confirmation of the non-availability of illegal drug supply, absence of drug transit activity, no clandestine drug laboratories or chemical warehouses, no marijuana cultivation sites, and no drug dens, pushers, or users in the area.
The provincial government, led by Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr., said the milestone reflects the collective efforts of provincial authorities, law enforcement agencies, barangay anti-drug abuse councils, and all 43 local government units (LGUs) in Iloilo in pushing toward a drug-free province.
In recognition of these gains, the province honored top-performing local anti-drug bodies through the Search for the Best Performing Municipal Anti-Drug Abuse Council (MADAC) and City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (CADAC), an initiative anchored on Provincial Ordinance No. 2021-260 authored by Provincial Board member June Mondejar, chair of the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committee on Public Order and Security.
The program has also gained national recognition, earning an award at the Department of Interior and Local Government Region 6 2025 Excellence in Local Governance Awards, where it received the Excellence in Safety, Peace and Order citation.
Category A (Component City / 1st–2nd Class Municipalities)
* Champion – Passi City Anti-Drug Abuse Council
* 1st Runner-Up – Sara Municipal Anti-Drug Abuse Council
* 2nd Runner-Up – Santa Barbara Anti-Drug Abuse Council
Category B (3rd–6th Class Municipalities)
* Champion – Maasin Municipal Anti-Drug Abuse Council
* 1st Runner-Up – Dingle Municipal Anti-Drug Abuse Council
* 2nd Runner-Up – Anilao Municipal Anti-Drug Abuse Council
Cash incentives ranged from P200,000 to P500,000, depending on category and ranking.
Provincial Administrator Raul Banias led the awarding ceremony, joined by Mondejar, Department of the Interior and Local Government Iloilo Provincial Director Engr. Carmelo Orbista, Philippine National Police Iloilo Police Provincial Director Col. Bayani Razalan, and Provincial Planning and Development Office Acting Head Jigger Labergue.
Provincial officials said efforts will now focus on addressing the remaining uncleared barangay, with the goal of declaring Iloilo fully drug-cleared in the near term./PN
