All 31 barangays of the town of Balilihan are now declared “drug-clear” by the Regional Oversight Committee on Barangay Drug Clearing (ROCBDC).
This was the information released by Balilihan vice mayor Trisha Chatto in a radio interview aired over Newsmakers Ug Uban Pa on Aug. 11, 2022, hosted by Ardy Araneta-Batoy and Dave Albarado.
The vice mayor said that the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) informed the local government unit of Balilihan on Aug. 11, 2022 that the barangays of Del Carmen Weste, Cabad, Candasig and Datag Norte are considered to be “drug clear”.
According to reports, a barangay is considered to be “drug clear” when the area’s drug personalities have been identified and have undergone rehabilitation.
“Nalipay ta nga tanang barangay sa Balilihan drug-cleared na! Naghinaot ta nga puhon madeklarar na usab ang atong lungsod nga drug-clear. Aduna na lang tay pipila ka requirements nga kinahanglan buhaton,”
the vice mayor said in. post.
“Gipahinumdoman ta sa PDEA nga bisan ug drug-clear na ang mga barangay, magpabilin gihapon tang magbinantayon para dili jud makasod ang illegal nga droga sa atong lungsod,” she added.
The vice mayor said even if all 31 barangays are “drug clear” there would be a separate assessment that will be made before the ROCBD can also declare the town of Balilihan as “drug-clear”.
The ROCBDC’s task is to examine documents from the barangay/municipal/city anti-drug abuse council before granting a “drug clear” status.
The drug-clearing program started in 2018. It can also be remembered that in 2018, during the tenure of former Gov. Edgar Chatto, Bohol started a program where it identified the drug-free homes in the province.
Former Gov Chatto is now the congressman of the 1st District of Bohol.
The stickers were used to identify homes deemed to be drug-free as part of the barangay drug-clearing campaign in the province, based on reports.