By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) recently revealed all 20 Pulupandan barangays passed the agency’s requirements to be declared drug-cleared.

Based on documents and certifications forwarded by the municipal government, five barangays were initially cleared following PDEA and Pulupandan police validations in June 2017. This development was followed by 15 barangays last January, and, by June 14, 2018, all 20 barangays were cleared.

The town is the first local government unit in Negros to be declared drug-cleared.

In a follow-up interview with Pulupandan Mayor Miguel Peña yesterday, he expressed pride in the town’s efforts to curb the proliferation of illegal drugs, which was accomplished through coordination with the PDEA and local police.

The mayor, who is the son of PDEA consultant and current Moises Padilla Mayor Magdaleno Peña, said his father worked towards eliminating illegal drugs in the locality during his time as Pulupandan mayor.

Peña added, their campaign was successful because both father and son worked in tandem to stop the illegal drug trade and its proliferation.

Last month, PDEA-Region VI revealed a total 111 barangays across the region were declared drug-cleared after conducting a series of validations by the agency and Police Regional Office-6./DGB, WDJ