28k barangays nationwide now drug-free, reports DILG

THE Department of Interior Local Government (DILG) has declared 28,000 barangays nationwide drug-free after apprehending 95,790 individuals involved in narcotics from March 2023 to March this year.

Citing DILG’s data, Interior and Local Government Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. said the report was the result of the department’s efforts under the ‘Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan’ (BIDA) program, which marked its first year on Saturday.

 “We’ve got 75,831 drug operations, 95,790 arrested drug personalities, P21 billion pesos worth of illegal drugs confiscated,” Abalos said in a statement issued on Sunday.

Citing President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Abalos likewise said that 177 police personnel were slapped with drug-related charges under the campaign.

Under the initiative, the DILG chief also said that 1,434 local government units have established their own community-based drug rehabilitation (CBDR) program, which catered to over 20,000 enrollees and, so far, served over 31,000 individuals who use drugs.