By Paulo Loreto Lim

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Regional Oversight Committee on Drug Clearing Program recently revealed they currently have applications from 133 barangays in towns across Iloilo, along with one from Antique, requesting evaluations to be considered for ‘drug-cleared’ status.

According to PDEA-Region VI Director Wardley Getalla, police are currently validating various barangays, beginning with those considered “slightly affected,” which, according to the Dangerous Drugs Board, means less than two percent of the barangay population are considered to be drug personalities.

Alimodian, in Iloilo, submitted the highest number of applications with requests from all 51 of the town’s barangays. Meanwhile, also requesting evaluations were barangays in Mina, Maasin, Bingawan, and Cabatuan in Iloilo; alongside San Remigio, Antique.

Earlier this month, Iloilo City Barangays Kauswagan, Osmeña, Ed Ganzon, and San Jose in the City Proper district; and Barangay Banuyao in the La Paz district all submitted applications for ‘drug-cleared’ consideration. Meanwhile, ‘drug-cleared’ Barangays Luna and Santa Isabel in the Jaro district, along with Barangay Sampaguita in the City Proper district, were scheduled for reassessments.

According to Iloilo City Department of the Interior and Local Government head, Atty. Ferdinand Panes, local police reported “new sightings,” which prompted the need for reassessments./PLL, WDJ