It is expected that at least two barangays in each Bohol municipality will be declared drug-free as the Bohol Provincial Police Office (BPPO) starts its drug-clearing operations early next year.

This, after police station chiefs were ordered to make strides to clear barangays of drug activities when the New Year starts, said Senior Insp. Vincent Dumaguing, BPPO public information officer.

Although the mandate entails clearing two to three villages, the BPPO urged station chiefs to include more in a bid to significantly lower the number of barangays affected by drug activities which is currently at 1,086.

According to Dumaguing, the BPPO has already received several reports on barangay drug-clearing operations.

He said that around 50 villages have been recommended to be declared drug-free by their respective Barangay Anti-drug Abuse Council while 14 were recommended by a Municipal Anti-drug Abuse Council.

Following the development, Dumagaing expressed optimism over the continued growth in the number of barangays recommended to be declared drug-free.

The police officer had previously announced that 23 barangays in Bohol have already been declared drug-free.

However, he did not indicate which barangays have already been cleared of drug activities. (Allen Doydora)