The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Sunday they are intensifying efforts to combat illegal drugs at the grassroots level.

In separate radio interviews, both agencies highlighted a strategic shift that places equal emphasis on dismantling major syndicates and addressing localized drug distribution in communities.

PDEA spokesperson Joseph Frederick Calulut said the agency is focusing on community-level enforcement, citing the need to target small-time drug offenders alongside large-scale operations.

“Part of the lesson of this election is to go back to the grassroots level,” he said. “If people are worried and saying drugs are returning to their areas, then let’s continue the large drug busts. We will continue … we will jail those involved in drugs. But let’s first look at the smaller offenders.”

Calulut emphasized that PDEA remains committed to lawful enforcement and will not tolerate extrajudicial methods, marking a shift from the previous administration’s violent crackdown.

“There is wisdom behind this pronouncement of our President. He said we should also focus on small-time drug peddlers, and so PDEA will obey that along with other law enforcement agencies,” Calulut said.

He noted that PDEA has begun targeting minor dealers and will release updated arrest figures soon. He also pointed to increased drug seizures as evidence of the administration’s intensified efforts.

“We’re making huge confiscations. Our confiscations became bigger because we focused on this through concerted efforts with other law enforcement agencies, and we also strengthened our intelligence operations,” he said.

Meanwhile, the PNP said it is renewing its campaign against street-level drug pushers and users, echoing PDEA’s grassroots approach.

PNP spokesperson Brig. Gen. Jean Fajardo said the police will focus equally on pushers, users and their sources in barangays and communities.

“We will also focus on street-level pushers and users because they are in the communities and barangays and could be the direct sources for these users,” Fajardo said.

She added that the PNP aims to strengthen the capacity of Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils and local government units to promote community-based initiatives.