The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Tuesday announced that 17 municipalities in Zamboanga Peninsula were declared as drug-cleared communities.
The DILG also commended these municipalities for their successful
anti-drug campaign in connection with the regional launch of the government’s revitalized anti-drug campaign dubbed “Buhay ay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan (BIDA) program.
According to DILG Secretary Benjamin Abalos, Jr., all 386 barangays covered by 17 towns have been declared drug-free.
The 17 towns were Bayog, Domingag, Josefina, Lakewood, Mahayag, Pitogo, Somingot, Tabina, Tigbao, Vicenzo Sagun and Ramon Magsaysay in Zambo Del Sur; He is in Zambo Sibugay; Kalawit, Labson, La Libertad, Siayan and Prison in Zambo Del Norte.
The 17 towns were Bayog, Domingag, Josefina, Lakewood, Mahayag, Pitogo, Somingot, Tabina, Tigbao, Vicenzo Sagun and Ramon Magsaysay in Zambo Del Sur; He is in Zambo Sibugay; Kalawit, Labson, La Libertad, Siayan and Prison in Zambo Del Norte.
Abalos particularly cited the town of Jose Dalman in Zamboanga Del Norte as the first municipality to become drug-cleared in the region.
Based on Dangerous Drugs Board Regulation No. 4, s. of 2021, before declaring a town drug-cleared, it is necessary that all barangays covered by it are also drug-cleared.
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency – Region 9 records showed that 1,334 out of 1,904 barangays in the region have been completely cleansed of illegal drugs as of December 2022.
It also showed that 455 barangays are affected by illegal drugs, while 115 barangays are unaffected.
Abalos urged the remaining 58 municipalities in the region to be more diligent in their anti-illegal drugs campaign so that they, too, can be declared drug-free.
