SEVEN out of 16 villages in Valladolid, Negros Occidental were declared free from illegal drugs.
These are barangays Batuan, Ayungon, Alijis, Duldol, Guintorilan, Bayabas, and Paloma.
Senior Inspector Junji Liba, town police chief, said these barangays have zero drug personalities per evaluation of the barangay drug abuse council in the municipality based on the new guidelines of the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB).
The oversight committee of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-18 in Negros Island Region also validated the report.
The town has 260 drug surrenderers since the implementation of Oplan Tokhang.
For his part, Valladolid Mayor Enrique Miravalles thanked the barangay officials, police, and the community for their efforts in the campaign against illegal drugs.
He believed that the remaining nine villages will also be cleared from illegal drugs soon.
Last May 31, four barangays in Bago City, Negros Occidental were also declared drug-free based on the new DDB guidelines.
These are Pacol, Busay, Bagroy and Alianza which complied with the parameters of Section 6 of the DDB Regulation 3, Series of 2017.
In Negros Oriental, three villages in Bayawan City, including Nangka, San Jose and Ubos, were also declared cleared of illegal drugs on June 5.
In the previous DDB guidelines, only the Philippine National Police (PNP) was authorized to declare a community drug-cleared.
Under the DDB Regulation 3, Series of 2017, after the Philippine National Police has declared a barangay clear of illegal drugs, such has to be attested by the city or municipal anti-drug abuse council and has to be validated by the PDEA.