Two EB Magalona communities recommended for ‘drug-cleared’ status
By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The Regional Oversight Committee (ROC) recently revealed a total of 349 Western Visayas barangays have been declared “drug-cleared” since the Barangay Drug Clearing Program began last year.
In total, 2,469 out of the region’s 4,051 barangays have either been declared “drug-cleared” or unaffected.
“More than 50 percent na tayo and we hope to increase pa by second semester kasi ang plano natin tatlong regional oversight deliberation pa before the year ends (We’re currently at over 50 percent with hopes to increase the figure by the second semester as we are planning a third regional oversight deliberation before the end of the year),” explained Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Region VI officer-in-charge Alex Tablate. “Comparing to other regions, masabi ko talaga na maganda ‘yung takbo nga barangay drug-clearing natin (Compared to other regions, I believe we are running our barangay drug-clearing operations really well).”
ROC hopes to see all barangays declared “drug-cleared” before 2022, when President Rodrigo Duterte’s term ends.
Meanwhile, ROC recently approved the recommendation of EB Magalona Barangays Barangays Latasan and San Isidro for “drug-cleared” status.
In response, EB Magalona Mayor Marvin M. Malacon commended the municipal police, led by Police Captain Jaynick Bermudez, for their campaign against illegal drugs.
He also applauded local barangay officials for promoting a proactive community.
The mayor assured every constituent who wished to cease their illegal drug habit with support through rehabilitation, counseling, medical intervention, and livelihood opportunity./DGB, WDJ