PDEA mission: 18,712 drug-cleared barangays  by 2022

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said it is out to rid more than 18,000 barangays nationwide of illegal drugs by 2022.

In a statement on Thursday, PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino said 44.5 percent of 42,045 barangays nationwide are still gripped by the illegal drugs menace.

Aquino said his agency is out to eliminate the drug problem in 520 barangays monthly.

“PDEA intends to sustain the pace of clearing an average of 6,200 drug-affected barangays every year or 520 barangays every month, for the next three years. The mission of ridding the country’s drug problem by 2022 would be a reality,” Aquino said.

Aquino said that of the 18,712 barangays, 7,817 are slightly affected by drugs, 10,616 are moderately affected and 279 barangays are seriously affected.

PDEA classifies a barangay as slightly affected when there is a reported presence of drug users while moderately-affected barangay means there is a reported presence of drug pushers and users.

Barangays are considered seriously affected if there is a reported presence of clandestine drug laboratory, warehouse, marijuana plantation, drug den, drug trafficking or smuggling activities, and drug personalities such as users, pushers, financiers, protectors, cultivators, and manufacturers.

PDEA said Metro Manila has the highest rate of barangays affected by narcotics with 72 percent followed by Central Visayas with 72.4 percent.

Currently, 14,922 barangays are declared cleared from narcotics from July 1, 2016, to September 30, 2019. /gsg