The  Philippine  Drug Enforcement  Agency in  Negros  Oriental  has  recorded  a  positive  reduction  in  the  supply of  illegal  drugs, but reported that Dumaguete  City remains   a transient  point  for drugs from  Mindanao to Cebu, Siquijor  and  Negros  Occidental.

SPO1 Manuel Sanchez, chief of the provincial PDEA, said  that, for  the first quarter of this year, they have recorded 44 apprehensions, including  an arrest in Siquijor province.

They recorded eight arrests in January and February, and 10  in  March.

For the first quarter of 2008, Sanchez said they noticed a significant reduction of arrested drug suspects. 

Dumaguete  PNP  chief, Supt.  Leopoldo  Cabanag, earlier said that  drug situation  in the city has  decreased by at  least   50 percent.

However, PDEA records revealed that last month alone, they had 18 apprehensions including  the  recent  arrest  of  a lawyer  in Siquijor.

Sanchez  said  Negros  Oriental  is  considered  a  transient  point  considering  the  number of  wharfs and  ports that provide easy access from Mindanao  to Visayas.

He added that in Dumaguete, Barangay Looc and Luke Wright Street remain as the areas frequented by drug personalities.  The PDEA expects an  increase  of  drug  supply  in June during  the  opening  of  classes.

Sanchez said they are encouraging  barangay  officials  and  the  school  administrators  to  conduct  drug  awareness programs for students  and   parents, which may be conducted by PDEA  and  the Task Force  24. 

PDEA  will  also  accommodate  requests  from  barangay  officials  for them to conduct community dialogs.*MA

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