Dumaguete: The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) announced on Thursday that 290 out of the 557 barangays in Negros Oriental have been declared 'drug-cleared,' while 53 have achieved the status of being 'drug-free.'
According to Philippines News Agency, PDEA Negros Oriental chief Elmer Ebona revealed that 214 barangays remain 'drug-affected,' as per the latest data from the Barangay Drug Clearing Program. Ebona explained that a 'drug-cleared' barangay is one that was previously affected by illegal drug activities but has undergone rigorous interventions to eliminate drug supply, pushers, and dens. In contrast, a 'drug-free' classification is granted to barangays vetted by the oversight committee and found to have no history of monitored drug activities.
The PDEA records indicate that Bais City and La Libertad have the highest number of drug-cleared barangays at 26 each, followed by Mabinay with 23, and Bayawan City with 21. Sta. Catalina has 20 drug-cleared barangays, Dauin 19, Tayasan 16, while Guihulngan City and Manjuyod each have 15. Pamplona has 14 drug-cleared barangays, and Canlaon City, Valencia, and Vallehermoso each have 11. Dumaguete City, the capital of Negros Oriental, has only three drug-cleared barangays out of its 30.
In terms of drug-free barangays, Manjuyod and Bindoy lead with eight each, followed by Jimalalud with six, and Ayungon and Tayasan with five each. Bais City has four drug-free barangays, while Dumaguete, Basay, Pamplona, San Jose, and Sta. Catalina each have two. Bayawan City, La Libertad, Dauin, Mabinay, Siaton, and Sibulan have one drug-free barangay each.
Marjorie Ballesteros, assistant regional director of PDEA in the Negros Island Region, urged local government units (LGUs) to establish 'Balay Silangan,' a temporary shelter and reformation center for Persons Who Use Drugs (PWUDs) undergoing interventions. Establishing such centers is a requirement for municipalities or cities to be fully declared a drug-free zone.
Ebona noted that five LGUs in Negros Oriental-Basay, Bayawan City, Bais City, Canlaon City, and Pamplona-have already set up Balay Silangan reformation centers. He added that a municipality or city could partner with a neighboring LGU operating a Balay Silangan facility for accommodating PWUDs, provided both parties enter into a memorandum of agreement.
