5 drug-free Zambo villages get cash incentive

ZAMBOANGA CITY -- The city government has awarded cash incentives to five barangays the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has declared as drug-free villages.

Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar handed over Friday the cash incentives, PHP50,000 each, to the chairpersons of the five barangays during the culmination of the Zamboanga Hermosa Festival’s socio-cultural activities.

The five barangays declared as drug-free villages are Lanzones, Capisan, Lumayang, Dulian-Upper Pasonanca, and Tigbalabag.

Salazar commended PDEA and the officials of the five villages for their efforts to eradicate illegal drugs in their respective communities, adding she hopes that more barangays will be declared as drug-free villages in the coming months.

“The city 98 barangays and only five have so far been declared as drug-free. I hope that more barangays will be declared free of illegal drugs,” she added.

The PDEA has also initiated strategies in clearing barangays of the drug menace aside from conducting anti-drug operations.

Lawyer Jacqueline de Guzman, PDEA regional director, earlier disclosed that they also focus on the different communities since drug problem thrives in the grassroots.

De Guzman also warned barangay officials that they will be criminally liable for neglect of duty if they refuse to cooperate with in the government’s anti-drug campaign. (PNA)