BAGUIO CITY – The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in the Cordillera Administrative Region (PDEA-CAR) has eradicated PHP771 million worth of marijuana plants through 200 operations conducted from January to October 16 this year, an official disclosed on Tuesday.
According to a new release by the Philippines News Agency, the operations were distributed across several provinces: 112 in Benguet, 79 in Kalinga, six in Mountain Province, and three in Ifugao. The eradicated marijuana included plants valued at PHP688 million, seedlings worth PHP2.3 million, dried leaves amounting to PHP4.5 million, stalks valued at PHP70 million, bricks at PHP2.4 million, and seeds totaling PHP12,500.
Paderes noted that although most operations were carried out in Benguet, Kalinga province recorded the highest value of destroyed marijuana at PHP624.5 million. The PDEA-CAR intends to continue revisiting these areas, as there is always a likelihood of discovering new plantations near the previously found sites. "The goal is to fully eradicate the cultivation of marijuana by always returning to the villages and sitios. The government's war on drugs is a continuing effort, and we will consistently return to the mountains," Paderes stated.
In executing these operations, PDEA-CAR collaborated with the Philippine National Police, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine Coast Guard, and the National Bureau of Investigation, among others.
As a preventive measure, the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) is considering a proposal from the Kalinga Provincial Peace and Order Council. The proposal calls for the construction of roads and the enhancement of livelihood programs in remote areas to discourage residents from cultivating marijuana. Paderes expressed confidence that the DDB will fund the proposal, citing a similar initiative successfully implemented in Kapangan over a decade ago. Kapangan, once a major producer of high-grade marijuana in the region, has been free from illegal drug cultivation for several years following infrastructure and livelihood developments.