By Xander Ledesma
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Negros Oriental announced on Monday that 278 out of 557 barangays in the province have been declared “drug-cleared.”
However, PDEA-Negros Oriental Field Office chief Aline Deposoy clarified that a “drug-cleared” status does not mean the complete absence of drug users or pushers. Instead, it indicates that interventions, such as the community-based drug rehabilitation program (CBDRP), have been or are being implemented in these communities.
As of September 2024, 226 barangays are categorized as “drug-affected,” and 53 have been officially declared “drug-free.” For a barangay to be declared “drug-free,” it must meet certain criteria, including the presence of a Balay Silangan reformation center.
Currently, Basay is the only municipality in the province to be officially recognized as drug-free, as it has a Balay Silangan center and no drug personalities are present. Other areas, like Sta. Catalina, are working toward the same goal but still need to establish a Balay Silangan center to meet the necessary requirements.
Balay Silangan reformation centers also exist in Canlaon City, Pamplona City, and Bais City, though they have yet to fulfill all the conditions for a drug-free declaration.