MANILA, Philippines — All 21 barangays in San Juan City have been cleared of illegal drugs, making it the first local government unit in Metro Manila to achieve such status, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) reported yesterday.
PDEA National Capital Region field office head Emerson Rosales made the declaration during the final deliberation at city hall.
Present at the event were Mayor Francis Zamora, city anti-drug abuse council (CADAC) co-chairman and Vice Mayor Warren Villa, other government officials as well as representatives from 21 barangays in San Juan.
“I would like to congratulate all 21 barangays for achieving the drug-clear status, the first in the National Capital Region,” Rosales said.
The last three barangays which were declared drug-free last December were Batis, San Perfecto and West Crame.
Zamora said achieving a 100-percent drug-free status is a big milestone for the city.
“This is an honor for the city. We are thankful to PDEA for giving us this recognition,” he said in a statement.
The mayor said achieving a drug-cleared status is a testament that San Juan is a peaceful and safe city.
Zamora said the CADAC and the barangays worked together in monitoring people who use drugs or PWUDs and subjected them to rehabilitation programs to help them reintegrate back to the community.
Despite the achievement, Zamora urged local officials not to let their guard down to sustain the fight against drugs.
“Huwag tayo makumpiyansa. Gawin natin itong challenge to maintain the city’s drug-free status,” he said.
Zamora said the city government is building a four-story rehabilitation center, called Balai Silangan, for PWUDs.
Source: Emmanuel Tupas – The Philippine Star | February 10, 2023 | 12:00am