THE Zamboanga City Government, together with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), recognized five villages that have been cleared from illegal drugs.
Cleared from illegal drugs and awarded P50,000 cash each are the villages of Lumayang, Lanzones, Capisan, Dulian-Upper Pasonanca, and Tigbalabag.
Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar said Monday, October 14, that the cash reward forms part of the City Government's support to the anti-illegal drug campaign waged by the National Government.
Salazar said the cash reward was handed over last Friday, October 11, to the five villages.
She said the measures and indicators on declaring drug-cleared villages are instituted by the DILG and PDEA.
In declaring a barangay free from illegal drug activities, a committee, composed of members of the City Anti-Drug Abuse Council, together with the PDEA, validates "the non-availability of drug supply in the area and the absence of drug transit activity, clandestine drug laboratory and chemical warehouse, marijuana cultivation site, drug den, drug pushers and users."
Salazar said the activation of the Barangay Drug Abuse Councils (Badacs) is also crucial in the success of the implementation of the anti-drug campaign.
Meanwhile, PDEA agent Jury Rocamora said the financial reward given to the drug-cleared villages will be used for various activities, programs and projects related to the anti-drug campaign in the concerned village. (SunStar Zamboanga)