Bontoc, Mountain Province – Barangay Caneo of this capital town has been declared as drug-free by the Regional Oversight Committee on Barangay Drug Clearing Program.
The oversight committee, which is chaired by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), is composed of representatives of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Health (DOH), and local government units.
Bontoc Mayor Franklin Odsey and PLT Rufino Alibat, the Deputy Chief of Police of the Bontoc Municipal Police Station (MPS), handed over the Certificate of Drug-Free Barangay to Caneo Punong Barangay Edward Ochasan during the program in celebration of the 113th Bontoc Founding Anniversary on September 16, 2021, at the Bontoc Municipal Capitol grounds.
In a separate interview, Odsey commended the barangay officials and constituents of Barangay Caneo for their individual and collective efforts in curbing the proliferation of illegal drugs in their areas of jurisdiction.
He added that Bontoc has been aggressively implementing the government’s anti-drug campaign since it was launched at the start of President Rodrigo Duterte’s term in 2016.
The declaration of a barangay as drug-free is pursuant to the parameters set forth by the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) as provided in Section 8, DDB Board Regulation No. 3 Series of 2017, otherwise known as “Strengthening the Implementation of the Barangay Drug-Clearing Program”.
It is stipulated in DDB Board Regulation No. 3 Series of 2017 that before declaring a barangay is free from illegal drug activities, the committee must convene and validate the non-availability of drug supply in the area; absence of drug den, pusher and/or user; absence of clandestine drug laboratory; active involvement of barangay officials in anti-drug activities; existence of drug awareness, preventive education, and information; and existence of voluntary and compulsory drug treatment and rehabilitation processing desk.
Meanwhile, five barangays of Bontoc have been earlier accorded with Certificates of Drug-Free Barangay. The five barangays are Tocucan, Gonogon, Guina-ang, Maligcong, and Bayyo. // Alpine L. Killa, Bontoc LGU
