COTABATO CITY — The Regional Oversight Committee on Barangay Drug Clearing (ROCBDC) has approved and declared a total of 100 barangays as drug-cleared or drug-free across parts of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), following its 10th regular meeting held on December 16, 2025.
During the meeting, the committee unanimously declared 17 barangays as Drug-Cleared, three (3) as Drug-Free, 45 as Verified Drug-Free, and 35 barangays retaining their Drug-Cleared status in the provinces of Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Sur, and Basilan.
The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format, combining face-to-face discussions and virtual participation via Zoom. The approvals were made in accordance with Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) Regulation No. 4, Series of 2021, which sets the standards and procedures for clearing, verifying, and sustaining drug-free and drug-cleared barangay status.
ROCBDC Chairman Director Benjamin C. Reciteds III presided over the session, together with Assistant Regional Director Eduardo A. Makabenta IV, who led the deliberations and formal declaration of the qualified barangays.
Representatives from the Ministry of the Interior and Local Government (MILG), Philippine National Police (PNP), Ministry of Health (MOH), and Provincial Local Government Units (PLGUs) actively participated in the discussions. During the deliberations, several queries were raised and addressed, with the committee offering guidance, recommendations, and strategies to ensure the sustainability of the barangays’ drug-cleared and drug-free status.
The committee emphasized the importance of continuous inter-agency collaboration, community involvement, and sustained anti-illegal drug efforts to prevent the resurgence of drug-related activities at the grassroots level.
The ROCBDC reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening the government’s anti-drug campaign and supporting local government units in maintaining safe, healthy, and drug-free communities across the region.