The budget cut of P2.2 billion out of its proposed 2021 budget allocation, will affect the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency’s barangay clearing operations.
In a radio interview, PDEA Director General Wilkins Villanueva said the budget cut will ‘badly affect’ its clearing operations of drug-infested barangays, a major strategy under PDEA.
He added that the clearing operations fall under the Philippine Anti-Drugs Strategy.
Villanueva said the PDEA would need at least P492 million to wipe out illegal drugs at the barangay level.
“What we are batting for is about P492 million to enable us clear over 7,000 barangays. That is where our main strategy is anchored,” he said.
The agency had proposed a P4.9-billion budget. The Department of Budget and Management, however, endorsed only a P2.7-billion budget for PDEA in the National Expenditure Program for fiscal year 2021.