SIXTEEN Iloilo City barangays were officially declared cleared from illegal drugs by the Regional Oversight Committee on February 27.
These villages include San Felix, Tanza Bonifacio and Liberation in City Proper; Bantud and Burgos in La Paz; and Jalandoni Estate in Lapuz.
In Jaro, the villages are Arguelles, Buhang, Buntatala, Dungon A and Montinola.
In Molo, these are Cochero, Infante, North Fundidor, San Pedro and Tap-oc.
The latest declaration brought the total number of drug-cleared barangays to 77 out of 180 villages in the metropolis.
The 77 barangays successfully passed the deliberation process and were subsequently declared as drug-cleared or officially unaffected.
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Western Visayas chairs the Regional Oversight Committee with member representatives from the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Department of Health, Philippine National Police and local government units.
Guidelines set by the Dangerous Drugs Board for the declaration include the absence of: illegal drugs supply; transit or transshipment activity; laboratory; clandestine chemical warehouse; marijuana cultivation site; drug den, dive or resort; drug pusher, user or dependent; and drug protector, coddler or financier.
There should also be active barangay officials in anti-drug activities; involvement of Sangguniang Kabataan to maintain drug-free community; awareness, preventive education and information programs; and voluntary and compulsory drug treatment rehabilitation processing desk. (PR)