PDEA forges alliance with barangays in all-out war vs illegal drugs
By Chito Chavez
The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has solidified its link with the country’s 42,045 barangays to further intensify the government’s all-out war against illegal drugs.
“The fight against illegal drugs begins and ends in the barangays. Together with other drug law enforcement agencies, PDEA forged alliances with these communities to keep illicit drugs off the streets and protect the people away from the lures of drug abuse,” PDEA Director General Wilkins Villanueva said on Wednesday, June 8.
From July 1, 2016 to April 30, 2022, PDEA records revealed that a total of 25,061 barangays have been declared as cleared from illegal drugs.
On June 7, PDEA celebrated its 20th anniversary with the theme ‘Magka-agapay: PDEA at Barangay’ where guest of honor President Duterte recorded a congratulatory video message to the agency.
As a matter of tradition done every year, PDEA honored the best performing services and personnel who have demonstrated exceptional service over and above the call of duty.
The anniversary program also featured an audio-visual presentation which showcased the PDEA Director General’s Executive Report, summarizing the notable anti-drug accomplishments for the past 20 years.
Also highlighted in the presentation was the Barangay Drug Clearing Program (BDCP) as the main framework of the anti-drug strategy of PDEA in pursuing safer and drug-free communities.
Villanueva said the BDCP enlisted the support of all stakeholders, duty bearers and local government units in barangay drug-clearing operations.
“Assuming the role of a catalyst in spurring growth of healthy communities that are free from the ill effects of illegal drugs is the BDCP. I am confident that the program is our best chance in ultimately eliminating the drug menace,” Villanueva said.
“Let us sustain the gains we have achieved in the last 20 years with the barangays as our allies in establishing self-policing and drug-resistant communities. Together we can liberate our country from the clutches of illegal drugs,” he added. (Chito A. Chavez)