PDEA 7 Declared 29 Bogo City Barangays Drug-Cleared

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 7 formally announced the drug-clear status of Bogo City’s 29 barangays, making the status the first in the Visayas region and the second in the country.

During the official declaration of drug-free barangay ceremony held at the Capitol on Thursday, PDEA director Filemon “Yogi” Ruiz said they issued the declaration on the basis of the 14 parameters laid under the Dangerous Drug Board (DDB) Regulation No. 3 Series of 2017 which provides for the operational guidelines in conducting drug-clearing operations in the barangay level.

Under the DDB Regulation No. 3, before a barangay achieves a drug-clear status, it must undergo three phases of clearance operations namely: the pre-operation phase, operation phase and post-operation phase.

Phase 1 undertakes the groundwork and bases for effective and sustainable clearing operations against drug-affected villages while Phase 2 (operational phase) sets the implementation of supply and demand reduction strategies. Phase 3 aims to maintain the status of “drug-cleared” through support activities.

Drug-cleared barangays, as defined under DDB Regulation No 2, Series of 2007, are those villages “previously drug-affected and subjected to drug-clearing operations, and declared free from any illegal drug activities.”

Five government agencies sat as oversight committee that checks and verifies if a barangay is drug-cleared.

These agencies include PDEA who serves as the chairman, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), PNP through Cebu Provincial Police Office (CPPO), Department of Health (DOH) and the Provincial Government through CPADAO.

Bogo City mayor Carlo Martinez explained that among the strategies they employed in the clearing operation include talking to drug suspects.

Martinez, a lawyer, said they persuaded the suspects to change their ways and avoid police operation.

A “drug-cleared” status means that government agencies have validated the non-availability of narcotics supplies in the barangay, absence of drug transshipment or transit, laboratories, warehouses, marijuana cultivation sites, drug dens, dives or resorts and the absence of drug pushers, users, dependents, coddlers, financiers or protectors.

Cebu Governor Hilario P. Davide III said that the achievement of the city is a reflection of the unified efforts of participating government agencies in eradicating illegal drugs.

“Kining inyong kalampusan, kalampusan usab namo sa Probinsiya sa Sugbo ug sa atong mga katambayayong nga ahensiya sa gobyerno,” Davide said in his speech.

Included in the drug-cleared status are the 11 barangays from San Remigio town.

Cebu Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Office (CPADAO) head Carmen Remedios Durano-Meca said the achievement should motivate other villages to intensify its efforts against the illicit business.

“This declaration of drug-cleared status should inspire others to work harder so that more, if not all barangays in the province may also be cleared of the drug problem and can be given the seal of distinction of drug-cleared status,” said Meca.

Moreover, Davide said the next challenge is to maintain and sustain the achievement.

“One excellent way is by enhancing current efforts in the rehabilitation and reintegration programs for the surrenderers,” said Davide. (OCP)

cebu.gov.ph