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Friday, March 29, 2024

PNP declares 26.2K villages ‘drug-cleared’

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More than 26,000 villages across the country have been cleared of illegal drugs through the “whole- of-nation approach” under the Barangay Drug Clearing Program.

Latest data released by the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Tuesday showed of the total 42,046 barangays in the country, 35,356 have been previously declared as drug affected. From these, 26,244 or 74.23 percent have been declared as “drug cleared” from July 2016 to November 2022.

PNP Chief Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr. lauded the collective efforts of government agencies, especially those who work devotedly and diligently for this notable achievement.

Azurin said that from July 1, 2022 to November 1, 2022, 403 more barangays were declared drug cleared by Regional Oversight Committees.

Of the 35,356 drug-affected barangays, 17,079 are classified as slightly affected, 17,860 are moderately affected, while 417 are seriously affected.

Cagayan Valley region has the highest of recorded drug cleared barangays with 94.41 percent, followed by Cordillera Region at 94.36 percent, Mimaropa at 93.95 percent, Eastern Visayas at 93.09 percent and Soccsksargen at 88.25 percent.

A barangay is classified as “affected” if there is presence of a Person Who Used Drugs (PWUDs); moderately affected if there’s a presence of drug pushers and Person Who Used Drugs (PWUDs); and seriously affected if there is a reported existence of any of the following: clandestine drug laboratory, warehouse, marijuana plantation, and drug den/tiangge,  drug trafficking or smuggling activities and drug personalities such as users, pushers, financiers, protectors, cultivators, and manufacturers.

“The PNP, in coordination and partnership with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency [PDEA], the Department of the Interior and Local Government [DILG] along with local government units [LGUs], other government agencies and stakeholders in the community remain committed to clear the remaining 9,112 or 25.77 percent barangays in the coming years,” Azurin said.

The drug-clear status follows the certification of members of the oversight committee on the Barangay Drug-Clearing Program (BDCP).

Under the BDCP, law enforcement agencies take care of supply reduction efforts to disrupt the manufacture and distribution of dangerous drugs, while government agencies and LGUs focus on demand and harm reduction strategies to prevent people from taking and wanting illegal drugs and reform drug offenders to become productive citizens of society.

“Rest assured that the entire police force is always ready to extend assistance during the implementation of intervention and rehabilitation programs for drug users in order to help them to become productive citizens again when they are re-integrated to the community,” Azurin stressed.

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