S. Cotabato hikes incentives for top-performing anti-drug bodies

GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- The provincial government of South Cotabato has increased the cash incentives beginning this year for the top performing city and municipal anti-drug abuse councils (ADAC).

Provincial Board Member Agustin Dema-ala Jr. said Monday the local legislative body raised the financial grants for winners of the province’s 2018 search for most outstanding city or municipal ADACs.

Dema-ala, who is also action officer of the Provincial ADAC, said this year’s top ADAC will receive a grant of PHP500,000 while the second and third places will get PHP400,000 and PHP300,000, respectively.

Non-winners will receive consolation prizes of PHP50,000 each.

In 2017, the top three ADACs received cash incentives of PHP400,000, PHP250,000 and PHP100,000, respectively. The non-winners got PHP17,500 each.

Sto. Niño town topped last year’s search, followed by Surallah and Tantangan towns.

“This is to encourage our ADACs to perform better and implement more support initiatives to address problems on illegal drugs,” Dema-ala said.

He said the council is currently evaluating the performance of the province’s ADACs in coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Philippine National Police, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Department of Education, Provincial Information Office and the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office.

Local councils were required to submit their accomplishment reports as well as proposals for anti-illegal drug programs and projects.

Dema-ala said the winners will be announced on Nov. 23 in line with the Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Week celebration.

Aside from the top-performing ADACs, the local government provides incentives to operatives, informants, and media workers involved in anti-drug operations.

For 2018, PADAC received a total budget of PHP14 million, with PHP8 million coming from the province’s annual budget and PHP6 million from supplemental funds. (PNA)