The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Negros Oriental on Monday said 278 of the 557 barangays in the province have already been declared as “drug-cleared”.
But PDEA-Negros Oriental Field Office chief Aline Deposoy clarified that drug-cleared barangays do not exactly mean that drug users and pushers are no longer present in the community.
“Drug-cleared barangays do not necessarily mean there are no longer drug users or drug pushers present in the community but interventions have been or are implemented, such as the community-based drug rehabilitation program,” she said.
Deposoy told the media in an interview that 226 other barangays are categorized as “drug-affected” while 53 more are already “drug-free” barangays as of September this year.
Some barangays may qualify for declaration as “drug-free” (no presence of pushers or users) once they have met certain requirements such as having a Balay Silangan reformation center in the town or city where they belong.
So far, only Basay town has been declared as a drug-free municipality as it has a Balay Silangan and drug personalities are no longer present, Deposoy said.
The municipality of Sta. Catalina is also aiming for the declaration as drug-free, however, it still needs to put up a Balay Silangan, she added.
Balay Silangan reformation centers are also present in Canlaon City, Pamplona City and Bais City but lack other requirements to be declared as drug-free. (Judy F. Partlow/PNA)
