CEBU CITY – More areas in Central Visayas have been declared drug-cleared.

In the July 6 to 7 deliberation of the Regional Oversight Committee on Barangay Drug Clearing (ROCBDC), 114 barangays in Region 7 were added to the list of drug-cleared areas, said Leia Alcantara, information officer of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-Central Visayas (PDEA 7).

Out of 114 newly declared drug-cleared barangays, 97 are from Bohol, Alcantara said.

The rest of the newly declared drug-cleared barangays are from Cebu with 11, Negros Oriental, five; and Lapu-Lapu City, one.

As of this month, 116 barangays in Region 7 have been drug-free while 1,329 barangays have been drug-cleared.

There are five municipalities that have been identified as drug-cleared.

The ROCBDC is chaired by PDEA 7 Director Levi S. Ortiz.

Prior to the deliberation, PDEA 7 and the police validated the existence of any active drug personalities in the barangays.

Assessment was also made to check if voluntary drug surrenderers completed their prescribed intervention programs.

During the deliberation process, members of the ROCBDC, which include the Department of the Interior and Local Government as vice chairman, Department of Health, and the police, scrutinize the barangays’ documentary requirements.

Representatives from the concerned barangays also answered some questions from the ROCBDC members.