TABUK CITY, Kalinga (PIA) – Kalinga province is now 96.7 percent drug-cleared and drug-free, according to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
Melanie Gorospe of PDEA reported that as of November 2024, 109 of the 153 barangays in the province were declared drug-cleared while 39 barangays were certified drug-free, leaving only five barangays still affected by illegal drugs.
The remaining barangays, based on the PDEA report, re Laya East in Tabuk City, Junction in Pinukpuk, and Butbut Proper, Tulgao, and Buscalan in Tinglayan.
Drug-cleared barangays are those previously classified as drug-affected but have undergone a thorough validation process by the Regional Oversight Committee on Barangay Drug Clearing (ROCBDC) to confirm their efforts and campaigns in addressing the drug problem in their areas.
Meanwhile, drug-free barangays are those with no presence of illegal drug activities or personalities as validated and confirmed by the ROCBDC.
Gorospe emphasized that drug-cleared barangays continue to sustain their status by conducting regular anti-drug campaign among their community. They also regularly coordinate with the PDEA, the police, and other agencies to maintain their anti-drug campaigns.
From January to November 2024, PDEA conducted 19 anti-drug operations in the province comprising of 11 marijuana eradication and eight buy-bust operations.
The operations yielded P121,314,265 worth of confiscated illegal drugs. This includes P108,020,000 worth of fully- grown marijuana plants, P10,877,349 worth of marijuana leaves, P2,400,000 worth of marijuana stalks, and P16,961 worth of shabu or methamphetamine.
Nineteen drug offenders were arrested during the operations, Gorospe added. (JDP/RGA-PIA CAR, Kalinga)