THE police announced that 66 villages in Zamboanga del Norte have been declared as drug-free areas in line with the anti-drug campaign of President Rodrigo Duterte.

The Police Regional Office (PRO)-Zamboanga Peninsula (Western Mindanao) said the declaration came after the assessment and validation conducted by the Regional Oversight Committee.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Regional Director Lyndon Aspacio chairs the Regional Oversight Committee.

Chief Superintendent Billy Beltran, PRO-Zamboanga Peninsula director, said the drug-free certifications were issued to the villages officials during a ceremony held at the Zamboanga Del Norte Sports and Convention Complex in Dipolog City.

Beltran said the cities and municipalities with corresponding villages in Zamboanga del Norte declared as drug free are as follows: Dapitan City, 6, Dipolog City, 5, Baliguian, 1, Godod, 2, Gutalac, 2, Jose Dalman, 2, Kalawit, 2, Katipunan, 1, La Libertad, 2, Labason, 2, Leon Postigo, 2, Liloy, 2, Manukan, 2, Mutia, 3, Pinan, 2, Polanco, 4, Roxas, 8, Rizal, 2, Salug, 2, Sergio Osmena, 1, Siayan, 2, Sibuco, 2, Sibutad, 2, Sindangan, 2, Siocon, 2, Sirawai, 1, and Tampilisan, 2.

The 66 villages were declared as drug cleared after meeting the following parameters: absences of drug pusher, drug user/dependent, protector/coddler and financier, active involvement of barangay officials in anti-drug activities, and active involvement of the youth sector to help maintain the drug-liberated status of the barangay.

Beltran said he is optimistic that police and the different local government units in the region would double its efforts to meet all the required parameters in declaring "Drug Clearing Status" of the drug affected villages in their respective localities. (SunStar Philippines)