OZAMIZ CITY, Misamis Occidental (PIA) -- The Regional Oversight Committee on Barangay Drug Clearing Program (ROCBDCP) declared six more barangays in Ozamiz City to be drug-free, namely Dimaluna, Pantaon, Gotocan Diot, Litapan, Capucao C, and Gala.

Mayor  Atty. Indy Oaminal shared, “Sadly, as the former drug capital of Mindanao, if not the Philippines, ubay-ubay gyud og (a big number of) Persons Who Use Drugs, or PWUDs, ang (in) Ozamiz, which makes it a bit more challenging for us to have our barangays declared drug cleared, but we will not let this challenge stop us from working to win this fight against illegal drugs.”

The mayor urged Ozamiznons to help the government continue reducing both the supply and demand of illegal drugs.

“We are reducing the supply of illegal drugs with the help of the tireless Ozamiz City Police Station, the rest of the Philippine National Police, and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, as we make sure that anyone who tries to bring in and sell illegal drugs in the city is caught and brought to justice,” the mayor added.

Meanwhile, he urged PWUDs and those who may be tempted to use illegal drugs to know that nothing good will ever come of it.

“We also give PWUDs livelihoods and financial assistance to show them that they can be socially and economically productive without  illegal drug usage,” the mayor said.

PMaj Dennis Tano, Officer in Charge, Chief of Police Ozamiz, also urged barangay chairmen to continue to monitor the activities of PWUDS to continue the progress of the barangays. “Para ang problema sa droga, dili na mahimo nga babag sa atong barangay (So that problems with drugs will not anymore become a hindrance in the barangay),” he said.

The ROCBDCP, which consists of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Department of Health, Department of the Interior and Local Government, and Philippine National Police, spearheaded the validation, which took place at the DOH-10 office building in Cagayan de Oro City, where the six barangay captains and their representatives received certificates as drug-cleared barangays.

Further, as part of the drug clearing, PWUDs went through various trainings, seminars, and other activities through their community-based drug rehab program in their barangays. (JMOR/,PIA Region 10-Misamis Occidental)