The provinces of Oriental and Occidental Mindoro each have one municipality declared as drug-cleared, as authorities try to expand anti-drug successes across MIMAROPA, reports revealed Friday.

Speaking at the First Quarter Regional Inter-agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs meeting, PDEA MIMAROPA’s Gracel Domingo reported that 21 municipalities in the region have achieved drug-cleared status, with Oriental and Occidental Mindoro accounting for one town each.

However, PDEA did not specify which municipalities in Oriental and Occidental Mindoro have achieved drug-cleared status.

The announcement comes as authorities expressed optimism about declaring two other provinces – Romblon and Marinduque – as entirely drug-free areas after the May 2025 elections.

“Since May 2024, all 1,460 barangays in the Mimaropa region have zero drug affectation,” Domingo said.

She clarified that of these, 336 barangays are classified as drug-free while 1,124 are drug-cleared.

To maintain their status, drug-free barangays must undergo verification while drug-cleared areas face validation processes, she added.

DILG MIMAROPA Assistant Regional Director Rey Maranan said local government operations officers are working closely with officials to meet drug-free criteria.

He noted that national government agencies are providing additional support to local government units.

The region’s anti-drug efforts have gained national recognition, with six municipalities receiving Anti-Drug Abuse Council Performance National Awards in 2024.

Five of these awardees are from Romblon province, while one is from Marinduque.