BACOLOD City Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran yesterday, June 28, said that Barangay 5 is set to be declared free from illegal drugs by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
Familiaran, who was in Bohol for an official travel, said PDEA-Western Visayas is now finalizing the documents to announce that Barangay 5 is drug-free.
"Congratulations to the barangay officials and hopefully more barangays will be declared drug-free in the city," he said.
He added the City Government need the cooperation of the barangay officials to address the illegal drug problem.
Of the 61 barangays, PDEA had earlier re-evaluated Barangays 5, 24 and 41 to be declared drug cleared.
In 2017, these three barangays were declared drug-free by PDEA but was not recognized after the documents were not signed by the committee. It was also at that time the Negros Island Region was abolished.
Aside from the three barangays, there are eight other barangays that are candidates to be declared free from illegal drugs.
These are Barangays 4, 17, 18, Cabug, Granada, Alangilan, Vista Alegre and Felisa.
Familiaran said that after the Barangay 5, he is hopeful that the remaining barangays will be soon declared a drug free barangays.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia had earlier said it is just a matter of time that the said villages will be declared free from drugs.