Perception of Barangay Officials and PNP Officers on the Level of Illegal Drug Usage in

San Jose City, Nueva Ecija through Ordered Probit Modeling

Alvin Q. Pequiro*

Jun Dave T. Patricio**

Abstract

The prevalence of illegal drug use in the country has been a source of concern not just

of the national government but more so of the local government units (LGUs). This

pervasiveness sometimes translate into different crimes as a result of physical and

psychological deviant behaviors of the user. The containment of these cases is within the

bounds of the policies set by the different LGUs. These policies are created based on how

these LGUs perceived the current level of illegal drug usage in their areas of responsibilities.

It is with this thought that this study was conducted. Respondents were randomly taken from

both the barangay officials and PNP officers. Structured questionnaires and personal

interview were done to gather the data. Using the perception of the level of illegal drug usage

as the dependent variable, the ordered probit regression analysis revealed that the significant

factors influencing the perception of the level of illegal drug usage are the age of the

respondents, the gravity of the police and other agencies dealing on illegal drugs and the

presence of programs and campaign on the usage of illegal drugs. Further, the ordered probit

model predicted that most probably the level of illegal drug usage in San Jose City is of low

level.

* Statistics Department, College of Arts and Sciences, Central Luzon State University
**
Statistical Operations and Coordination Division, Philippine Statistics Authority