Over 18,000 barangays nationwide drug-affected —PDEA

More than 18,000 barangays across the country still need to be cleared from illegal drugs, according to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) on Thursday.

According to PDEA chief Director General Aaron Aquino, the anti-drug agency aims to clear a total of 18,712 barangays from illegal drugs by 2022.

Aquino said the number represents 44.5% of the 42,045 barangays in the country that are still plagued with illegal drugs. Out of the 18,712 barangays, 7,817 are classified as slightly affected; 10,616 are moderately affected; and 278 are seriously affected with illegal drugs.

According to PDEA, a barangay can be considered as slightly affected if there is a reported presence of drug users in the area.

A barangay, meanwhile, can be described as moderately affected with illegal drugs if there are reported drug sellers and users in the area, PDEA said.

On the other hand, a barangay is seriously affected with narcotics if there is a reported presence of clandestine drug laboratory, marijuana plantation and drug dens. The presence of drug personalities including users, sellers, financiers, protectors and manufacturers is also rampant in a seriously affected place.

Data from PDEA indicated that the National Capital Region has the highest rate of barangays that are affected with illegal drugs with 72.7%.

Other regions that have high percentage of drug-affected barangays include:

• Region VII - 72.4%
• Region V - 68.9 %
• Region III - 63.6%
• Region IV-A - 55.7%

Meanwhile, the regions with the least number of barangays affected with illegal drugs are the following:

• CAR - 7.2%
• Region VIII - 17.5%
• Region XIII - 17.7%

— KBK, GMA News