PDEA: 7 NCR cities, Pateros have 100% drugs affectation rate

Seven cities and one municipality in Metro Manila have at least one drug user in every barangay, according to data from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

Based on the agency’s data for 2014, PDEA Director for the National Capital Region Erwin Ogario said a drug affectation rate of 100 percent was recorded in the cities of Caloocan, Taguig, Muntinlupa, Las Piñas, Makati, Pasay, and Parañaque and the municipality of Pateros.

“For the entire National Capital Region, per city eto po ang drug affectation. That is, Caloocan, 100 percent yung drug affectation. Ibig sabihin 10 sa 10 barangay mayroong problema [ng droga],” he told lawmakers at the hearing of the House committee on Metro Manila development Thursday.

“Ang buong Southern area ay nasa 100 percent. Ibig sabihin po, lahat ng cities na nandun sa South, ang mga barangay nila, based on the assessment dated May 2014, is 100 percent,” Ogario added.

Caloocan City is under the jurisdiction of the Northern Police District (NPD) of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO). The six other cities and Pateros are under the jurisdiction of the Southern Police District (SPD).

Caloocan/Camanava
 
Of Caloocan’s 188 barangays, Ogario said 68 are considered “slightly affected” by the drug problem, with at least one confirmed user, while 30 are “moderately affected,” with at least one recorded drug pusher.

The remaining 90 barangays, he said, are seriously affected by the use of illegal drugs.

Ogario said drug users were also recorded in 9 out of 10 barangays in the area of Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela (Camanava).

Quezon City: 92.25% affectation rate

PDEA also recorded drug use in nine out of 10 barangays in Quezon City, resulting in a drug affectation rate of 92.25 percent.

Drug users, meanwhile, were found in eight of 10 barangays in the cities of Pasig, San Juan, Marikina and Mandaluyong, which comprise the area covered by the Eastern Police District.

Ogario said only 131 of Metro Manila's 1,706 barangays can be considered drug-free.

Based on the PDEA’s data, shabu or methamphetamine remains the most preferred substance used by illegal drug users, followed by marijuana, Ecstasy and cocaine.

With the government recording at least 1.3 million drug addicts in Metro Manila in 2012, Ogario said it is likely that the number of illegal substance users has risen in the capital in the last three years since 92 percent of barangays in Metro Manila are drug-affected. — BM, GMA News