ROXAS CITY, Capiz — The Capiz provincial government is moving to strengthen its partnership with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) as Governor Fredenil H. Castro and agency officials discuss plans to identify a site for a permanent PDEA provincial office—a development that could further boost coordination in the province’s continuing campaign against illegal drugs.
The meeting was held on August 28, 2026, at the Office of the Governor at the Capiz Provincial Capitol, where officials discussed the possible provision of a location that could accommodate PDEA operations and support its long-term presence in the province.
According to the provincial government, Governor Castro stressed the importance of providing PDEA with a suitable and permanent workspace to help make the agency’s programs and operations more organized, efficient and effective.
Among those who joined the discussion were PDEA Deputy Director General for Operations Assistant Secretary Renato Gumban, Regional Director Ralph Rommel Torres, PDEA-Capiz Provincial Officer Jury Rocamora, Assistant Provincial Officer Dennis Parreñas, and Barangay Drug Clearing Officer Nemae Trinidad.
Why the Move Matters for Capiz
The proposed permanent office comes as Capiz continues to report significant progress in its drug-clearing efforts—but authorities say the fight is far from over.
As of August 2026, 443 out of Capiz’s 473 barangays have been declared drug-cleared, according to PDEA-Capiz. That leaves 30 barangays yet to receive the status, with authorities emphasizing that even drug-cleared communities remain subject to continued monitoring and can lose their status if illegal drug activities return.
Earlier this year, PDEA-Capiz also reported that the province conducted 43 anti-illegal drug operations from January 1 to June 25, 2026, resulting in arrests, rescues and the filing of cases against dozens of individuals. Authorities recovered suspected illegal drugs with an estimated total standard value of more than ₱724,000, according to figures reported by the Daily Guardian.
Recent enforcement operations also underscore why officials continue to push for stronger coordination. In an August 2026 operation in Roxas City, police arrested a woman identified as a high-value individual and recovered suspected shabu, with authorities citing continuing intelligence-sharing and coordination with PDEA among the strategies being used against illegal drug activities.
Beyond Arrests: A Broader Anti-Drug Strategy
Capiz’s anti-drug campaign is increasingly being framed as more than just a law-enforcement effort.
In February, PDEA welcomed the province’s Community-Driven Drug Response Ordinance, which aims to strengthen local anti-drug councils and promote a more public health-based approach to addressing illegal drug use. PDEA-Capiz officials said cooperation between local governments, communities and national agencies remains essential in building a comprehensive response to the problem.
Meanwhile, concerns have also been raised about the availability of rehabilitation and reformation facilities. A June 2026 report noted that some areas in Capiz still lacked Balay Silangan Reformation Centers, highlighting the continuing challenge of combining enforcement with rehabilitation and reintegration programs.
A Stronger Base for the Next Stage?
For the Capiz provincial government, providing PDEA with a permanent location is being positioned as part of a broader effort to reinforce cooperation with national government agencies and protect peace, security and public welfare.
The proposed facility has not yet been announced as a final project, and officials are still looking into a suitable site. But the discussions signal that the province is preparing to give PDEA a more stable operational base as the campaign against illegal drugs continues.
With hundreds of barangays already declared drug-cleared, the next challenge for Capiz may be just as difficult: making sure those gains last—and preventing illegal drugs from finding their way back into communities that have already been cleared.
The message from authorities is clear: progress has been made, but the campaign is not over.
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