BAGUIO CITY August 29 – The number of Drug Affected Barangays in Baguio City was whittled down from 17 to six by the Regional Oversight Committee earlier today.
Declared as Drug-Cleared Barangays are Campo Filipino, Dontogan, Ferdinand, GEFA/Lower Quirino-Magsaysay, Honeymoon, Pacdal, Padre Zamora, Pinsao Pilot Project, Quezon Hill Proper, Trancoville and Upper Rock Quarry.
Dangerous Drugs Board Regulation Number 3 series of 2017 provided the guidelines in implementing the Barangay Drug Clearing Program.
Under the said regulation, a barangay must comply with certain conditions in order to be declared as “Drug-Cleared”. The parameters are non-availability of drug supply; absence of drug transit/transshipment activity; absence of clandestine drug laboratory, clandestine drug warehouse, clandestine chemical warehouse; absence of marijuana cultivation site; absence of drug den, dive or resort; and absence of drug pusher, drug user/dependent, protector/coddler and financier.
In addition, the DDB Regulation requires the active involvement of barangay officials in anti-drug activities and the involvement of SK to help maintain the drug-liberated status of the barangay.
It is also a requisite that the barangays have drug awareness, preventive education and information, and other related programs together with the existence of a voluntary and compulsory drug treatment and rehabilitation processing desk.
For the province of Benguet, the Regional Oversight Committee downgraded the status of barangays Tacadang and Badeo from Seriously Affected to Moderately Affected. Both barangays are located in Kibungan, Benguet.
Notwithstanding the trimming down of drug affected barangays in Baguio City, 66 barangays within the Cordilleras were already given notices through their Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils on the resurgence of illegal drug activity within their area.
The failure of the 66 barangays to take appropriate action on the notice within 30 days from receipt would be a ground to declare them as “Drug Affected.”
By Dexter A. See
