Photo from Navotas PIO/MANILA BULLETIN
The local government of Navotas City declared 13 barangays in the city “drug-cleared” on Monday, July 3.
The city government said Barangay San Roque is the 13th barangay in Navotas that has been declared drug-cleared by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
Other barangays that maintained their drug-cleared status are North Bay Boulevard South (NBBS) Dagat-dagatan, NBBS Proper, NBBS Kaunlaran, Navotas East, Navotas West, Tanza I, Tanza II, San Rafael Village, Bagumbayan North, Sipac-Almacen, Bangkulasi, and Daanghari.
Navotas City Mayor John Reynald “Rey” Tiangco along with city council members awarded the PDEA certificate to San Roque Barangay Captain Enrico Gino-gino and other officials of the barangay.
PDEA noted that San Roque has been drug-cleared since June 23 this year, after undergoing a thorough assessment and validation of their compliance with Section 12 of Dangerous Drugs Board Regulation No. 4 - Series of 2021.
It said that for a barangay to be drug-cleared, barangay officials should be actively advocating for anti-drug campaigns, and people who use drugs (PWUD) and wanted drug personalities should have been provided with appropriate intervention, among others.
“We urge Navoteños to be vigilant and report any suspicious individuals or activities to TXT JRT (text John Reynald Tiangco). Let us continue working hand in hand to keep our city and people safe from the drug menace,” Tiangco added.
He said the city has a community-based drug rehabilitation program called Bidahan, where PWUD undergo a series of drug testing, rehabilitation, psychiatric treatment, and counseling to ensure that they adhere to the program's objectives.
For the accreditation of the Bidahan program, the city government has also recently signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of Health – Treatment and Rehabilitation Center (DOH-TRC) in Bicutan, Taguig City.
Around 68 PWUDs graduated from the program during the celebration of the 16th Navotas Cityhood Anniversary last June 24.