PDEA aims to clear remaining about 18,000 from drugs by 2022

October 31, 2019

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) is aiming to clear the remaining 18,712 drug-affected barangays by 2022.

In a statement Thursday, PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino said these barangays represent 44.5 percent out of 42,045 barangays in the country that are still plagued by the drug menace.

Out of the 18,712 drug-affected barangays, 7,817 are classified as slightly affected, 10,616 are moderately affected, while 279 barangays are seriously affected.

 “PDEA intends to sustain the pace of clearing an average of 6,200 drug-affected barangays every year or 520 barangays every month, for the next three years. The mission of ridding the country’s drug problem by 2022 would be a reality,” Aquino said. 

The PDEA chief said there are three basic parameters in determining barangay drug-affectation, this are slightly affected, moderately affected, and seriously affected. 

Barangays are considered slightly affected if there is a reported presence of drug user, moderately affected if there is a reported presence of drug pushers or users; and seriously affected if there is a reported presence of clandestine drug laboratory, warehouse, marijuana plantation, drug den, drug trafficking or smuggling activities, and drug personalities such as users, pushers, financiers, protectors, cultivators, manufacturers and others. 

Based on their data, the National Capital Region (NCR) has the highest rate of barangay drug-affectation with 72.7 percent, followed by Central Visayas at 72.4 percent; Bicol Region at 68.9 percent; Central Luzon at 63.6 percent; and Calabarzon (Cavite- Laguna- Batangas- Rizal- Quezon) at 55.7 percent.

Regions least affected by illegal drugs are Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) at 7.2 percent; Eastern Visayas at 17.5 percent; and Caraga at 17.7 percent.

As of September 30, a total of 14,922 barangays were declared cleared from illegal drugs since July 1, 2016.

Aquino said these barangays have reached drug-cleared status after a certificate was issued by members of the Oversight Committee on Barangay Drug-Clearing Program.

“Once cleared, we monitor newly-declared drug-free barangays to ensure that they will maintain their status. All our efforts will go to waste if we allow the resurgence of illegal drug activities in these areas,” he said.

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 and absence of drug transity, clandestine drug laboratory and chemical warehouse, marijuana cultivation site, drug den, drug pusher and user.

“We are gaining ground in freeing every barangay in the country. PDEA will carry on with its aggressive supply reduction operations, and holistic approaches to prevent people from wanting and taking illegal drugs, while offering interventions, thus saving the lives of drug users and surrendering drug pushers,” Aquino said. Ella Dionisio/DMS