By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The community-based rehabilitation program initiated by the provincial government of Negros Occidental and the Philippine Army has managed to rehabilitate a total of 168 drug personalities.
According to the Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council (PADAC), the youngest participant was a 12-year-old boy, while the oldest was a 47-year-old.
Last year, the Capitol organized a series of wellness camps with the 303rd Infantry Brigade (303IB), attended by moderate drug users who surrendered through the ‘Oplan: Tokhang’ program of the Philippine National Police (PNP).
The four wellness camps were held in August, September, November, and December.
Those seeking treatment came from across the province, including the cities of Bago, Escalante, Himamaylan, Kabankalan, La Carlota, San Carlos, Silay, and Sipalay and the municipalities of Calatrava, Cauayan, Hinigaran, Ilog, Isabela, Manapla, Murcia, and Pontevedra.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Drug Enforcement Unit (PDEU) of the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (NOPPO) reported 84 of the 601 barangays in the province have been declared free of illegal drugs. NOPPO also reported a total of 15,835 drug-related arrests were recorded last year./WDJ