23 more brgys considered for drug-free status

CPADAO head IVY Durano-Meca said 23 new barangays are now being considered for drug-free declaration. Meca is with Police Chief Insp. Herbert Amancia, CIDG-7 deputy chief, in this August 2017 photo.
/CDN file photo

Another batch of 23 barangays in Cebu province have been recommended for declaration as drug-free, said Cebu Provincial Anti-Drugs Abuse Office (CPADAO) head Ivy Durano-Meca.

The 23 barangays come from Danao City, San Remegio town and San Francisco town on Camotes Island in northern Cebu and Alegria town in the midwestern part of the province.

Without having to mention the names of the 23 barangays, Meca said the list is now with the Provincial Oversight Committee on Illegal Drugs for validation.

“These barangays may be granted their certificates as drug-cleared barangays before the year ends if the oversight committee does not find reason to postpone the grant of the certificate or revoke their endorsement,” said Meca.

If issued with certification, the number drug-free barangays in Cebu province will now total to 183.

Earlier, a total of 883 of the province’s 1,066 barangays were declared as drug-affected.

Meca said the oversight committee members agreed during a meeting last week to consider the declaration of the 23 barangays as drug-cleared.

The oversight committee headed by Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Central Visayas (PDEA-7) head Emerson Margaet also includes Governor Hilario Davide III, CPADAO and representatives from the Central Visayas offices of the Police National Police (PNP), Department of the Interior and

Local Government (DILG) and the Department of Health (DOH) in its membership.

The concern on the 23 barangays will again be discussed in next month’s committee meeting, Meca said.