THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)- Western Visayas declared eight villages in Negros Occidental free from illegal drugs.

This was confirmed on Sunday, February 3, by PDEA- Western Visayas spokesperson David Garcia.

A total of 283 barangays in Western Visayas were declared “drug-cleared” or officially “unaffected” after they have complied with all the requirements and parameters set forth under Dangerous Drugs Board Regulation No. 3 on Strengthening the Implementation of Barangay Drug Clearing Program (BDCP).

Of the number, 35 barangays were from Aklan, 94 from Antique, 30 from Capiz, seven from Guimaras, 109 from Iloilo, and eight from Negros Occidental, Garcia said.

The declaration of these villages came after the Regional Oversight Committee of the BDCP led by PDEA-Western Visayas officer-in-charge Alex Tablate convened with the Philippine National Police, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Health, and local chief executives in Western Visayas for its deliberation and validation in Iloilo City on January 31.

This year, all PDEA regional offices in the country are mandated to continuously implement the program in support of President Rodrigo Duterte's vision to eradicate illegal drugs up to the barangay level.

Garcia said three villages were from Cadiz City, and one each from Valladolid, Binalbagan, Himamaylan City, and San Carlos City.

He said there were no drug-free villages in Bacolod, but he cited Barangay 5 as a candidate for a drug-free area. However, it lacks one requirement for compliance.

Garcia said he has yet to know if a deliberation and validation will also happen this month.