The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) is urging local government units (LGUs) to acquire K-9 unit dogs to boost the anti-illegal drugs campaign in their localities.

PDEA-7 information officer III Leia Alcantara noted that Central Visayas currently has only seven dogs for its K-9 units.

“We also want to urge the LGUs that, if they can, they must buy their own K-9 units. In fact, that is one of the plans under the One Cebu Inter-agency Task Force, which I think was created in 2022, that every seaport should have a K-9 unit,” said Alcantara.

Alcantara said that K-9 units can be trained at PDEA’s training center in Bulacan for six months, including their handlers.

PDEA also conducts regular inter-agency refresher training to ensure that drug-sniffing dogs maintain their detection capabilities.

Alcantara said they are focusing on demand reduction, treatment and rehabilitation of illegal drug users in the region for their anti-illegal drugs campaign.

“In the previous administration, we emphasized the importance of supply reduction. ‘Yun ‘yung battle cry natin, supply reduction and anti-illegal drugs operation. Hindi naman nawala ‘yung conduct of anti-illegal drug operation. It’s still there, but the emphasis right now is on rehabilitation,” said Alcantara during the recent Kapihan sa PIA forum.

Aside from drug-related operations, PDEA is also responsible for regulating and monitoring the lawful handling of controlled substances, dangerous drugs, and essential chemicals to prevent their diversion into illegal drug production.

Doctors who prescribe drugs such as nalbuphine hydrochloride, which is used for pain management, secure their license to prescribe these medicines from PDEA through its Compliance Service section.

As of March 11, a total of 2,281 anti-illegal drug operations have been conducted in Central Visayas that led to the arrest of 1,378 drug personalities.

PDEA-7 conducts the buy-bust operations in close coordination with the Philippine National Police, National Bureau of Investigation, Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), PNP Drug Enforcement Group, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Health (DOH), and LGUs.

“We have a good working relationship with other law enforcement units,” said Alcantara.

She noted that not all intelligence reports come solely from PDEA agents.

Alcantara reported that from January to March 11, 2025, more than 50 kilos of shabu have been seized in the region, amounting to over P345 million, largely from bulk confiscations.

She attributed this to the region’s strategic location, which makes it a key transshipment point for illegal drugs.

“It’s considered a market because it’s a transit point. Some of the confiscated drugs were not intended for the Region 7 market but for other areas of the country,” Alcantara explained.

PDEA has verified that a drug route for Luzon and Visayas passes through Central Visayas. (PIA-7)