By Mar T. Supnad
CAMP TOLENTINO, Bataan- “As long as there are still drug pushers in neighboring provinces, Bataan cannot be totally declared as drug-free.”
This was the observation of Col. Joel K. Tampis, newly-designated police director during a recent press briefing.
He said that there were times that Bataan had been cleared of drugs “but we cannot control the entry of other drug pushers from nearby provinces who peddle drug in our province.”
Bataan hd been declared by the PNP and PDEA twice as drug-free. After days, police could apprehend pushers again.
Meanwhile, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has intensified its Barangay Drug-Clearing Program (BDCP) in Central Luzon.
In an interview, PDEA Assistant Regional Director Agnes Mandap reported that 48 percent of barangays in Central Luzon are still drug-affected.
“We already have two drug-cleared provinces namely Aurora and Bataan. Other provinces such as Bulacan, Zambales, Pampanga, Tarlac and Nueva Ecija are still affected,” she said.
Mandap explained that declaring a barangay or a province as drug-cleared is a multi-agency declaration involving the Regional Oversight Committee composed of Department of the Interior and Local Government, Philippine National Police, Department of Health, PDEA and the concerned local government unit (LGU).
It follows the criteria of the Dangerous Drugs Board which include absence of drug supply, absence of clandestine drug laboratory, absence of drug den or drug resort, and absence of drug pusher.
Under the implementation of the BDCP, Mandap said LGUs are given lectures so that they know their responsibilities in the drug-clearing operation.
“We are helping the barangay officials through regular seminar. It started in July, and we have already reached 60% of them. Our lectures are focused on giving them knowledge and guidance on the vitality of their role in this program,” she added.
Citing the need for all barangay stakeholders to participate in this, she said PDEA is also helping the barangays in establishing their own Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council, Rehabilitation Referral Desks, committees, advocacies, and peace and order programs.
Relative to this, Mandap announced that illegal drug activities can be reported in the Facebook page “Isumbong mo kay Wilkins”, a page made by PDEA Director General Wilkins Villanueva. They may also be reached through hotline numbers 0995-354-7020 or 0931-027-8212.