The Philippine National Police revealed on Tuesday that more than 26,000 villages across the country have been cleared of illegal drugs through the whole of nation approach against illegal drugs under the Barangay Drug Clearing Program.

The program has successfully cleared 74.23 percent of the 35,356 barangays tagged as drug-affected.

Based on the latest data from the PNP, of all 42,046 barangays in the country, 35,356 had been previously declared as drug affected, of which 26,244 or 74.23 percent have already been declared as drug cleared from July 2016 to November 2022.

PNP Chief Police General Rodolfo Azurin lauded the collective efforts of government agencies, adding that from 1 July to 1 November 2022, 403 more barangays were declared drug-free by Regional Oversight Committees.

Of the 35,356 drug-affected barangays, 17,079 are classified as slightly affected, 17,860 are moderately affected, while 417 are seriously affected.

Cagayan Valley region has the highest recorded drug cleared barangay with 94.41 percent, followed by Cordillera Region at 94.36 percent, MIMAROPA at 93.95 percent, Eastern Visayas at 93.09 percent, and SOCCSKSARGEN at 88.25 percent.

A barangay is classified as "affected" if there is the presence of a Person Who Used Drugs; moderately affected if there's a presence of drug pushers and Person Who Used Drugs and seriously affected if there is a reported existence of any of the following — clandestine drug laboratory, warehouse, marijuana plantation, and drug den/tiangge, drug trafficking or smuggling activities, and drug personalities such as users, pushers, financiers, protectors, cultivators and manufacturers.

"The PNP in coordination and partnership with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, the Department of the Interior and Local Government along with local government units, other government agencies and stakeholders in the community remain committed to clear the remaining 9,112 or 25.77percent barangays in the coming years," Azurin said.

The drug-free status follows the certification of members of the oversight committee on the Barangay
Drug-Clearing Program.

Under the BDCP, law enforcement agencies take care of supply reduction efforts to disrupt the manufacture and distribution of dangerous drugs, while government agencies and LGUs focus on demand and harm reduction strategies to prevent people from taking and wanting illegal drugs, and reform drug offenders to become productive citizens of society.

"Rest assured that the entire police force is always ready to extend assistance during the implementation of intervention and rehabilitation programs for drug users in order to help them to become productive citizens again when they are re-integrated to the community," Azurin said.

With Paula Antolin