CITY OF MALOLOS — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) have been declared 319 barangays out of 569 villages in the province of Bulacan or 56.06 percent as “drug-cleared.”
This was reported by the PDEA during the meeting by the Provincial Peace and Order, Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council and Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.
PDEA Assistant Provincial Officer Marie Fe Manto said during an interview on Wednesday that from 294 barangays in the first quarter of the year, 319 have been declared drug-cleared this second quarter. The number of drug-cleared barangays in the province has increased
Manto emphasized that their target is to declare the remaining 250 barangays drug-cleared by the end of 2023.
“There are 12 more barangays that will undergo deliberation this month for being drug-cleared,” anti-illegal drug officer said.
Meanwhile, Manto said that they are providing interventions to 40,192 drug personalities to return to normal life,
This includes enrolling in treatment and rehabilitation centers, entering Balay Silangan, graduating from the Community Based Drug Rehabilitation Program, and general intervention.
PDEA strict monitoring continues in the four cities of Bulacan; San Jose del Monte, Malolos, Baliwag, and Meycauayan as well as the towns of Bocaue and Marilao which are considered areas of concern or hotspots.
A barangay can be considered drug-cleared if it has a functional Barangay Anti-Illegal Drug Abuse Council, non-availability of drug supply, a drug awareness campaign, and a voluntary and compulsory drug treatment and rehabilitation processing desk.
It will go through the review of the Regional Oversight Committee before achieving such a declaration. (UnliNews Online)
