BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency reported that 11 more barangays in Western Visayas, including four in Negros Occidental, were declared as drug-cleared, while 20 others retained their status as drug-free barangays.
This was the result of the assessment by the Regional Oversight Committee on Barangay Drug Clearing chaired by PDEA regional director Alex Tablate during a meeting on May 27 in Mandurriao, Iloilo City, attended by representatives of the Philippine National Police, Department of Interior and Local Government, as well as the Department of Health.
Declared as drug-cleared barangays in Negros Occidental were Brgy. 1 poblacion in Cadiz City, Cambugsa in Hinigaran, Brgy. 11 in Victorias City and Central Tabao in Valladolid, as well as eight barangays in Dumangas, Iloilo.
PDEA reports further stated that 11 barangays in Guimaras and Capiz, and nine in Iloilo also retained the status as drug-free barangays, the report added.*
