The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Region VI (PDEA-6) yesterday declared Concepcion, Iloilo “drug cleared.”
“We are happy that we cleared another town from illegal drugs,” said PDEA-6 Director Alex Tablate. “This shows that we are winning against illegal drugs.”
He also anticipated more declarations.
“There are other towns to be declared this year,” the PDEA-6 official noted.
Concepcion Mayor Raul Banias, who was present for the announcement alongside 25 local barangay captains, said the task was not easy.
“Since I was elected as a mayor last year, I [committed] to myself to clear my town from illegal drugs,” he said. “Clearing the barangay [takes] continuous effort because, if we let down our guards, drug personalities from other towns will enter our area.”
“We are thankful for the support of barangay officials, the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council, and Municipal Anti-Drug Council,” the mayor added.
In order to be declared “drug cleared,” a locality must not exhibit a local drug supply; nor the presence of a drug den, dealers, users, and laboratory. In addition, barangay officials must be active in anti-drug activities; drug awareness, preventive education, and information campaigns must be operational; and there must be a voluntary and compulsory drug treatment and rehabilitation processing desk./WDJ