Eastern Visayas eyes first drug-cleared region tag

TACLOBAN CITY, May 14  -- Eastern Visayas is eyeing to become the first drug-cleared region in the country with the successful drug-clearing drive in two out of six provinces.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency regional director Edgar Jubay said it is attainable to clear the region from drug menace within the year with the cooperation of affected communities.

“The most challenging is Leyte province because it has 41 cities and municipalities, but as of today, three cities and 20 towns have been cleared from drugs. For the rest, we will just go on documents to see if all villages are compliant to the parameters set,” Jubay said in a mobile phone interview Monday.

“The reduced volume of seized drugs is a strong evidence that our barangay (village) drug-clearing operations are gaining grounds,” Jubay added.

In 2017, PDEA agents seized 1.21 kilograms of shabu, way below than the 14.67 kilograms recovered in 2016.

Eastern Visayas is the leading region in the country in terms of drug clearing operations with two out of six provinces have been officially declared as drug-cleared, said PDEA.

“There are only four drug-cleared provinces nationwide and two of these -- Southern Leyte and Biliran -- are in the region,” Jubay added.

Southern Leyte received the certificate on April 17 while Biliran got the recognition on May 11. Also classified as drug-cleared areas are Batanes and Romblon.

The declaration means that these provinces met all 14 parameters set by the Dangerous Drugs Board Regulation 3, series of 2017, such as the non-availability of drug supply, absence of drug dens, pushers, and users; absence of clandestine drug laboratory; active involvement of barangay officials in anti-drug activities; existence of drug awareness, preventive education and information; and existence of voluntary and compulsory drug treatment and rehabilitation processing desk.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) reported that as of end of April, at least 2,639 villages out of 2,825 drug-affected have been cleared. The number of cleared areas represents 93.42 percent of the total affected villages. The region has 4,390 villages.

“Both the PDEA and PNP felt that it is realistic to clear the region from illegal drug because communities are very cooperative and people here are peace-loving. We just need to show them that our policemen are trustworthy,” Cruz said in an interview Saturday.

The police official is optimistic that next to be declared as drug-cleared are the three provinces of Samar Island. (SQM/PNA)