The Regional Oversight Committee Deliberation Board (ROCDB) said 89.92 percent of the 4,051 barangays in Western Visayas have been cleared of illegal drugs.

ROCDB is composed of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA-6), Department of Health (DOH-6), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG-6) and the Police Regional Office (PRO-6).

The provinces of Guimaras and Aklan have 100 percent drug-cleared barangays. These villages were previously affected by illegal drugs.

Antique has the second-highest drug-cleared barangays at 99.66 percent, followed by Iloilo province, 98.55 percent; Capiz, 90.91 percent; Negros Occidental, 65.22 percent; Iloilo City, 52.22 percent, and Bacolod City, 22.95 percent.

From January to November this year, more than P249 million worth of shabu (36 kilos) and marijuana (7 kilos) were seized from 1,843 drug personalities in 1,500 operations.

Of those arrested, 1,687 were drug peddlers, 87 were drug users, 46 were classified as both drug dealers and users and three were marijuana cultivators.

Twenty minors were apprehended for involvement in illegal drug activities.

At least 25,098 of the 39,000 drug surrenderees have completed the recovery and wellness program of the Philippine National Police (PNP).IMT