70 barangays in Zambo Norte now drug free

• Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/2831500518953/70-barangays-in-zambo-norte-now-drug-free
• Thursday, July 20, 2017

By Emmanuel D. Taghoy (ALT/EDT/PIA9-Zamboanga del Norte)

DIPOLOG CITY, July 20 (PIA) - Following the intensive campaign against the drug menace in the country, a total of 70 barangays in the province have now been declared drug-cleared and drug-free by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) together with the Philippine National Police (PNP).

The official declaration was made after records showed that the barangays were cleared and free from drug users and pushers upon the recommendation of the Regional Oversight Committee of the Barangay Drug Clearing Program (BDCP) composed of the Department of Health (DOH)-9, Police Regional Office (PRO)-9, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-9, and PDEA-9.

There are a total of 691 barangays in the province. Of that number, 60 were identified drug-cleared barangays while 10 barangays were declared drug-free.

Dipolog City has six drug-free and five drug-cleared barangays. The municipalities of Godod, Gutalac, Jose Dalman, Piñan, La Libertad, Labason, Leon Postigo, Liloy, Manukan, Salug, Siayan, Rizal, Sibuco, Sibutad, Sindangan, Siocon, Tampilisan, Baliguian and Kalawit towns has two drug-cleared barangays each.

Meanwhile, Katipunan town has one drug-cleared barangays; Mutia town has three drug cleared and one drug-free barangays; Polanco town has four drug-cleared barangays; Pres. Manuel B. Roxas town has eight drug-cleared and one drug-free barangays; Sergio Osmeña town has one drug-cleared and one drug-free barangay; and Sirawai town has one drug-cleared and one drug free barangay.

PDEA-9 Regional Director Lyndon Aspacio, chairperson of the Regional Oversight Committee of the BDCP said drug-free barangays are those without drug users, pushers and drug dens even before the war on drugs of the government. While, drug-cleared barangays are those areas neutralised by law enforcers with the help of the local government unit and other concerned agencies.

He further explained that all the barangays have undergone assessment after they passed the necessary requirements to be identified as drug-cleared and drug-free.

Moreover, Aspacio stressed that even if a barangay has already been tagged as drug-cleared or drug-free, monitoring of the area will carry on.

“Nasimulan na natin ang pagbabago, and together we will continue this. Let’s do it for the next generation, for our children. And I know that in this war, kasama namin kayo,” he said.

On the other hand, PRO-9 Regional Director Billy Beltran lauded the support of the provincial government in the war against drugs. He said Zamboanga del Norte is among the provinces in the region with the most number of surrenderees based from their records.

“We are telling all that we will never again allow na merong magtutulak ng droga sa ating komunidad for our family and loved ones. We will reclaim all of our communities from the clutches of illegal drugs,” Beltran said.

Zamboanga del Norte is the first province in the region declared to have drug-cleared and drug-free barangays. Four of its barangays, among the first to comply the requirements, will be featured in the President’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) set on July 24.