The Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office said on Monday it is continuously appealing to village leaders to help in the campaign against illegal drugs.
Lt. Col. Alfonso Enriquez, head of the Police Community Affairs and Development Branch of the NOPPO, said they would want all villages to organize their respective Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council because the police need the help of the local officials to monitor and enroll drug surrenderers in the community-based rehabilitation program.
Records show that as of November 2019, there were 366 barangays in Negros Oriental that have held monthly BADAC meetings while 191 have not.
A total of 71 barangays in the province have been declared as drug free, which represents an estimated 12.75 percent of the total 557 barangays in Negros Oriental.
The Regional Oversight Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs declared these barangays as drug-free since 2017 and on separate occasions, according to a report from the Provincial Oversight Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs.
Records show that the first 30 barangays declared free and received a certification on June 21, 2017 were Mansangaban, Panam-angan, Tagpo, and Valencia in Bais City; Ubos, San Jose, and Nangka in Bayawan City; Atotis, Bagtangan, Cabcaban, Danao, Danawan, Nagcasunog, Peñahan, and Salong, Bindoy; Poblacion 4, Poblacion 5, and Poblacion 7 in Dumaguete City; Balaas, Bantolinao, Candabong, Kauswagan, Lucay, Tanglad, Tubod, and Salvacion in Manjuyod; Banban, Candanaay, Lamigan, and Nabhang in Ayungon.
Barangay Maninihon in Bayawan City was declared drug-free and received a certification on Jan. 23, 2019.
On May 28, 2019, the following 27 barangays were declared drug free and also received their certification: Alanginan, Obat, Amio, Poblacion, Buenavista, San Francisco, Caigangan, San Jose, Caranoche, San Miguel, Cawitan, San Pedro, Fatima, Sto. Rosario, Kabulacan, Talalak, Mabuhay, Manalongon, Mansagomayon, Nagbalaye, Nagbinlod, and Milagrosa, all in Sta. Catalina; Tayawan, Minaba, San Miguel, San Roque, and Manduao, all in Bayawan City.
The fourth group to be cleared includes the barangays of Binalbagan, Masulog, Pula, and Ninoy Aquino in Canlaon City, while the fifth group includes Cambajaw, Canlargo, Consolacion, Dansulan, Kantagahan, Rosario, San Isidro, Tamogong, and Hangyad in Bais City.
Chief Master Sgt. Duane Aquino said the dates for the declaration of these barangays were not immediately known pending the forwarding of the certification from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency here to the NOPPO.
Of the said local government units, Sta. Catalina topped the list of having the most number of barangays cleared, with a 100 percent accomplishment, or all of its 22 barangays.
Around 353 barangays are categorized as slightly affected by the drug problem while 77 are moderate.
Not a single barangay, though, has been categorized as “seriously affected”. (Judy F. Partlow/PNA)
