FUNCTIONAL BADAC. Interior and Local Government Undersecretary for Anti-Illegal Drugs Ricojudge Janvier M. Echeverri speaks before barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan officials during the Iloilo City Anti-Drug Summit held at the Diamond Jubilee Hall on Thursday (Aug. 29, 2019). He emphasized that the role of barangays in the anti-drug campaign is to 'organize' their Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council and 'make it functional'. (PNA photo by Perla G. Lena)
ILOILO CITY -- Local government units, particularly the barangays or villages, play a vital role in the demand reduction drive of the government’s campaign against illegal drugs.
Secretary Catalino S. Cuy, chairperson of the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), explained that the demand reduction drive is one of the two pillars of the Philippine Anti-Drug Strategy (PADS) that was institutionalized last year by virtue of Executive Order 66 signed by President Rodrigo Duterte. The other pillar is supply reduction, which is the work of law enforcement.
Cuy, who delivered the message of Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go during the Iloilo City Drug Summit held here Thursday, said that the demand reduction focuses on the consumer side.
“Under our strategy, we are going to the grassroots; it’s at the barangay level. Here we see the big role, mandate, and potential of our barangay officials,” he said, adding that the village officials are at the forefront of the campaign.
The summit was participated in by this city’s barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) officials.
“We are now giving equal importance and equal significance on the demand side,” Cuy said in an interview, citing that a significant effort has been done on the supply reduction.
Go expressed appreciation to the city government for spearheading the summit as part of the anti-drug campaign as he emphasized that it is a priority of the Duterte administration.
“Your presence here today shows a firm commitment to provide a safe environment for your community,” Go’s message read.
He emphasized that “prevention” is a key factor in the PADS.
During the summit, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary for Anti-Illegal Drugs Ricojudge Janvier M. Echeverri said that the role of barangays is to “organize” their Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BADAC) and “make it functional”.
He said that DDB and DILG came up with a joint memorandum circular that outlines indicators to determine if BADACs are functional.
These include among others the action plan, BADAC auxiliary team and fund allocation.
Irene Ong, president of the Liga ng mga Barangay of Iloilo City, said that the summit is significant because of the city’s 180 barangays, only 10 were cleared of illegal drugs.
However, Ong said that they are not at fault because until now, they haven’t received a response after they were asked to submit names of suspected drug personalities in their barangays to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) for verification.
The Liga head said that every time there is a new PDEA chief, then there is a new process that is being implemented.
“We wanted to know and be clarified if what the requirements are,” Ong said.
The one-day summit was also graced by National Youth Commission chairperson Ryan R. Enriquez, representatives from the PDEA, Department of Health, DILG, Philippine National Police and Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon. (PNA)
