THIRTY-EIGHT barangays in Central Visayas have been added to the list of drug-cleared barangays by authorities.Cebu Province has the highest number of drug-cleared barangays with 16, followed by Bohol with 11 and Negros Oriental.In Daanbantayan town, a total of 18 out of its 20 barangays have already been declared free of drugs. This after three barangays were recently added into the list of drug cleared barangays.Mandaue City has four drug-cleared barangays; Cebu City, two; and Lapu-Lapu, one drug-cleared village.The declaration of the drug-cleared barangays was made on Monday, April 25, 2022.These barangays have gained drug-cleared status by the oversight committee of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), and other government agencies like the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Philippine National Police, Department of Health, and the Cebu Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council after undergoing validation processes, such as the non-availability of drug supply in the area and the absence of drug laboratory, chemical warehouse, marijuana cultivation site, drug den, drug pusher and user.The municipality’s barangays have been required to activate their Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council for the implementation of community-based rehabilitation for drug surrenderers, and the participation of barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials in the anti-illegal drug activities. (AYB / KAL, HIC, ANV / TPT)