TABUK CITY, Kalinga – There are 352 barangays or 29.9 percent of the 1,178 barangays of the Cordillera that have been declared drug-free by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
According to PDEA-CAR Assistant Regional Director Christy Silva, 797 have been declared drug-cleared, 18 remain drug-affected, 171 have maintained their drug-cleared status, while there are 10 who are not affected by illegal drugs.
She reported this during the Buhay Ingatan Droga’y Ayawan (BIDA) anniversary celebration held at the Kalinga Sports Center on June 14 attended by Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. of the Department of Interior and Local Government.
“This drug-free barangays are going to be verified for this year and the remaining drug affected barangays are yet to be validated. Lalong-lalo na iyong mga nadrug-clear na barangays.
“May validation po na gagawin this year if their status were retained, if there are no drug personalities or any illegal drug activities in their respective barangays,” Silva said.
Silva also reported that shabu is still the main illegal drug used in the Cordillera despite the region being the main source of marijuana. She said this is based on the data of arrested personalities involved in illegal drugs, where drug pushers and drug users dominate the category of arrested individuals.
She said marijuana is still being cultivated in Tinglayan, Kalinga; Bakun and Kibungan in Benguet; and in Sadanga, Mountain Province.
She, however, assured that their agency, together with various stakeholders, will continue their efforts to curb the proliferation of illegal drugs.
“The current anti-drug efforts of PDEA-CAR, PRO-COR, and other law enforcement units in curbing the cultivation, transportation, production and sale of marijuana in its many forms are effective as manifested in the eradication, destruction, large volumes of seizures and confiscation conducted for the period,” Silva said. By Rod Asurin