Manila, March 28 -- The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Ilocos Norte reported that 91 percent of drug-affected villages in the province are drug-cleared as of March.

Data from the Barangay Drug Clearing Program showed that of the total 559 villages in Ilocos Norte, there were 525 classified as drug-affected.

However, collaborative efforts of various law enforcement agencies, local government units, partner government agencies and the community resulted in the declaration of 476 villages as drug-cleared.

A barangay is declared drug-cleared after it is previously reported as drug-affected and has successfully undergone drug-clearing efforts to rid of identified cases related to illegal drugs, according to PDEA in its report ...