The three Iloilo City barangays recently declared drug-cleared, Barangays Luna and Santa Isabel in Iloilo City’s Jaro district, along with Barangay Sampaguita in the city’s City Proper district, were each recently provided a P10,000 incentive from the city government.

Iloilo City Mayor Jose Espinosa III encouraged each neighborhood to maintain their drug-cleared status.

“The responsibility of barangay officials does not end the moment they were given with certificate for being drug-cleared,” he said. “The effort should continue in sustaining the status.”

“They should conduct seminars and trainings among the residents,” the mayor suggested; which he also instructed City administrator, Atty. Hernando Galvez, who chairs the city’s Barangay Drug-Clearing Program Assistance, to promote throughout the barangays.

“Our next move is to infuse activities in the three barangays and the neighboring barangays,” Galvez stated.

Meanwhile, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Region VI (PDEA-6) Director Wardley Getalla said closely monitoring activities within the barangay will both help maintain a drug-cleared status and assist other neighborhoods in moving closer to that goal.

“If you notice some drug pushers or users from other barangays, send them away or report them to PDEA or PNP (Philippine National Police),” he said. “Likewise, when you monitor [one] of your residents using drugs, send that person to the drug rehabilitation center.”/WDJ