Two Aklan towns receive Balangay Seal of Excellence Award

By Sheila Q. Patoza

KALIBO, Aklan (PIA) — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) awarded the municipalities of Libacao and Buruanga in Aklan with the Balangay Seal of Excellence, the highest recognition for local government units that have successfully cleared all barangays of illegal drugs and met stringent national standards.

These two towns were the first municipalities in Aklan to receive the Balangay Seal of Excellence, which made them part of the first batch of awardees in Western Visayas.

According to PDEA Aklan Acting Provincial Officer Jyxyvzcky G. Escrupolo, as of June 2025, only five municipalities in Western Visayas have received the award: two in Aklan, two in Iloilo, and one in Capiz.

The seal confirms that these municipalities have met all the required parameters for drug-cleared status and have sustained it, as validated by national oversight agencies.

“The recognition honors municipalities that have satisfied all the requirements under Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) Regulation No. 4, Series of 2021,” said Escrupolo.

Further, she explained that the Balangay Seal of Excellence Award is a nationwide initiative of PDEA that promotes and rewards outstanding performance in anti-drug efforts at the local level.

The award process involves strict validation and clearance protocols conducted by four national agencies sucj as PDEA, Department of Health (DOH), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

“To qualify for the seal, all barangays within the municipality must first be declared drug-cleared. This includes the implementation of workplace drug-free policies, the operation of rehabilitation programs like Balay Silangan, sustained surveillance of drug personalities, and mandatory drug testing for surrenderers. The process began in 2023 and includes continuous oversight with no set timeframe,” she added.

The Balangay Seal of Excellence does not come with any monetary award but serves as a symbolic recognition. Local government units must sustain their drug-cleared status through continued compliance with PDEA standards or risk revocation of the seal during the sustainability phase.

PDEA emphasized that achieving and maintaining a drug-free status is a collective effort. Escrupolo highlighted the importance of public support and inter-agency coordination.

“Be vigilant. Without the support of the community, the agency cannot function. Political issues must be set aside,” Escrupolo noted. (AGP/SQP/PIA Aklan with reports from Coleen Indemne and Clarize Parce/DOLE-GIP)