The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Dumaguete City has reported that 284 out of the 557 barangays in the province have been cleared of drugs in line with the government’s anti-narcotics campaign.
The PDEA also disclosed in a recent Provincial Peace and Order Council meeting in the city that 53 barangays were declared drug-free in the second half of 2025.
“With joint effort with some law enforcement agencies, we also conducted a buy-bust operation that resulted in the dismantling of a drug den in Barangay Magatas,” PDEA Intelligence Agent Aline Deposoy said.
Deposoy attributed the government’s success in the drug-clearing operations to the assistance of barangay officials, through the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council, and the Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council.
It is noted that drug-free barangays are areas that have never been affected by illegal drug activities, or no users, pushers or suppliers were monitored, while drug-cleared barangays refer to areas that were previously affected but have undergone a rigorous, validated, and documented process to remove all illegal drug elements.
The anti-narcotics campaign of PDEA has seized 10,099.51 grams of shabu and arrested 17 drug personalities during its 18 anti-illegal drugs operations in the same period.
Meanwhile, Dumaguete remains a transshipment point for illegal drugs through its seaports and airport.
The PDEA official said the wharves and ports in the city have been identified as drug entry points as they provide easy access to and from the Visayas and Mindanao.
The province posted a 39.50 percent drug-affectation rate, or 220 out of 557 barangays still considered drug-affected.
“With the remaining drug-affected barangays, we need to clear all these barangays, although the percentage of affectation, we only have a few barangays to clear here,” said Deposoy.
Furthermore, PDEA conducted an “Oplan Harabas” operation, an interagency collaboration together with the Land Transportation Office, Philippine Coast Guard, Highway Patrol Group, and the Department of Health, intended to conduct a surprise mandatory drug testing on public utility vehicle drivers, conductors and terminal personnel at the Dumaguete bus station and ports, ensuring the safety of everyone.
Several Drug Abuse Prevention Education lectures and information drives were also conducted for students, personnel of both public and private institutions, and even persons deprived of liberty. (PIA-NIR Negros Oriental)