160 Cebu barangays declared drug-free

CEBU CITY — One hundred sixty barangays in Cebu province were declared drug-free since July, 2017, even as the Cebu Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Office (CPADAO) vowed to further strengthen its anti-illegal drugs operations.

Twenty-five more barangays, however, are still awaiting confirmation of their drug-free status from the oversight committee which is composed of personnel from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Department of Health (DOH).

Cebu province has more than 1,000 barangays.

CPADAO chief Ivy Meca said no drug-free barangay in the province is under close watch for the possible revocation of their drug-free status.

Meca said that while they have activated the Barangay, Municipal or City Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (BADAC, MADAC, CADAC) in the province, not all have been functioning.

Data from CPADAO revealed that 1,066 BADACs were formed in different towns to determine their respective plans of action in solving the drug problem.

“We have also strongly implemented the enhancement of the communitybased treatment (CBT) program with the goal of reforming illegal substance abusers and addicts,” Meca said.

DOH data showed there were 3,062 graduate reformers under the CBT program, as of early December 2017.

Meca vowed that CPADAO will continuously monitor 18 LGUs under the CBT program as it would raise awareness on the detrimental effects of illegal drugs.