‘Shabu in Kalinga being sold at ₱6,000-₱7,000 per gram’ - PDEA

TABUK CITY, Kalinga — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Kalinga reported that the price of Shabu in the province has been monitored at ₱6,000 to ₱7,000 per gram, while a five-gram “bulto” is priced at ₱15,000 to ₱18,000 as of September 2026.

The figures were presented during the Third Quarter Joint Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) meeting held on September 30 in Tabuk City.

The meeting was attended by the representative of Governor James S. Edduba, DILG Provincial Director Max Mayor Adong, Vice Governor Dave Q. Odiem, and officials from the Philippine Army, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), PDEA, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Philippine National Police (PNP), as well as municipal and city local government units.

According to the PDEA presentation, its anti-illegal drug operations in Kalinga from July 1 to September 30 resulted in four operations, three arrests, the seizure of 10.6221 grams of shabu, and the eradication of 116,400 marijuana plants.

The seized shabu was valued at ₱72,502.28, while the marijuana plants were valued at ₱23.28 million, bringing the total value of drugs and marijuana plants involved in the operations to ₱23.35 million.

PDEA also reported that it has not yet seized a person selling one kilogram or more of shabu in Kalinga during its operations.

Based on the monitored price of ₱6,000 to ₱7,000 per gram, one kilogram or 1,000 grams of shabu would have an estimated equivalent value of ₱6 million to ₱7 million.

The estimate is a mathematical projection based on the monitored per-gram price and does not represent an official PDEA valuation for a one-kilogram shipment.

Meanwhile, PDEA continues to monitor marijuana plantation sites in Kalinga, particularly in Tinglayan. The agency also reported that some marijuana traders pose as local tourists, while illegal drugs may be transported through buses, vans, jeepneys and carpools, as well as through “dead drop” transactions.

The PDEA data showed that the province's illegal drug problem involves both supply reduction operations and monitoring of drug distribution methods, prompting continued coordination among law enforcement agencies and local governments.

Authorities also urged the public to help prevent the proliferation of illegal drugs by immediately reporting suspected drug-related activities to the proper authorities.

Public cooperation is considered important in identifying illegal drug activities at the community level and preventing them from spreading, which could put more lives, families and the future of residents at risk.

The PDEA presentation formed part of the peace-and-order discussions during the third-quarter joint PPOC meeting, where government and law enforcement officials reviewed security and public-order concerns in the province.