The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Negros Oriental on Monday, November 25, said 278 of the 557 barangays in the province have already been declared as “drug-cleared.”

But PDEA-Negros Oriental Field Office chief Aline Deposoy clarified that drug-cleared barangays do not exactly mean that drug users and pushers are no longer present in the community.

“Drug-cleared barangays do not necessarily mean there are no longer drug users or drug pushers present in the community, but interventions have been or are implemented, such as the community-based drug rehabilitation program [CBDRP],” she said.

Deposoy told the Philippine News Agency in an interview that 226 other barangays are categorized as “drug-affected,” while 53 more are already “drug-free” barangays as of September this year.

Some barangays may qualify for declaration as “drug-free” (no presence of pushers or users) once they have met certain requirements, such as having a Balay Silangan reformation center in the town or city where they belong.

So far, only Basay town has been declared as a drug-free municipality as it has a Balay Silangan and drug personalities are no longer present, Deposoy said.

The municipality of Sta. Catalina is also aiming for the declaration as drug-free. However, it still needs to put up a Balay Silangan, she added.

Balay Silangan reformation centers are also present in Canlaon City, Pamplona City and Bais City but lack other requirements to be declared as drug-free. (PNA)