More than half of the 180 barangays in Iloilo City have already been declared drug-free by the Regional Oversight Committee.
Latest data showed that 51.1 percent or 92 city villages given a drug-free status.
Thirty-three of the drug-free villages are in City Proper, 20 in Jaro, 11 in Molo, 9 each in Mandurriao and La Paz, and 5 each in Arevalo and Lapuz.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA-6) chairs the Regional Oversight Committee with member representatives from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Health (DOH), Philippine National Police (PNP) and local government units (LGUs).
The parameters for the assessment, as set by the Dangerous Drugs Board, are the non-availability of illegal drugs supply, transit or transshipment activity, laboratory, clandestine chemical warehouse, marijuana cultivation site, drug den, pusher, user, and protector.
The active involvement of barangay officials, including Sangguniang Kabataan members, in anti-drug activities, existence of awareness, preventive education and information programs, and the presence of voluntary and compulsory drug treatment and rehabilitation processing desks are also needed.IMT
