WITH Mandaue City’s success of having Bakilid as its first drug-cleared barangay, City Councilor Nerissa Soon-Ruiz will pass a resolution asking the City to allocate P2 million as incentive for the four barangays with impending drug-cleared statuses.

The incentives, if the resolution is approved by the City Council, would be sourced from the general fund, said Ruiz, who also serves as focal person of the City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (Cadac).

The lawmaker said she will submit the resolution on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. She did not divulge the names of the four barangays that will be declared as drug-cleared in 2022.

Before a barangay can be declared as drug-cleared, it must comply with several parameters, including the absence of drug pushers, users and laboratories in its area.

On Monday, Oct. 11, the City conducted the kickoff ceremony for the recognition of Barangay Bakilid as its first drug-cleared barangay. The activity was led by Police Regional Office 7 Director Brig. Gen. Roque Eduardo Vega and Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes.

To recall, the City Council had approved her resolution providing P500,000 as an incentive for Bakilid.

Two other barangays, Subangdaku and Tawason, are nearing their completion to be declared as drug-cleared. These barangays will also receive an incentive of P500,000 each after the declaration. They were included in the same resolution granting an incentive for Bakilid.

Incentives for Bakilid, Subangdaku and Tawason will be taken from the Cadac annual fund, which is P10 million.

The incentives will be used for the aftercare of former drug dependents and their livelihood assistance. (KFD)