(Photo: Screengrab from YOUTUBE) “The drug problem is a national problem that can be targeted and solved at the barangay-level,” said D...
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| (Photo: Screengrab from YOUTUBE) |
Even at the outset of his assumption as the DILG Secretary, Sueno has been pronouncing this approach in curbing illegal drug activities and criminality.
He said that the 42,036 barangays in the country are most grounded or in-the-know of the issues and concerns in their communities.
“Illegal drug activities happen in neighborhoods. The barangays, as the smallest local government units (LGUs), are our first source of information and first-line of defense,” he said.
“Barangay-level approach is also a way of promoting whole-of-government and participatory strategy in suppressing drug abuse and trafficking,” he added.
With this premise, Sueno prodded all 145 cities and 1,489 municipalities in the country to abide by the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB)’s Board Regulation No. 4, Series of 2016 which provides for a monitoring mechanism for anti-drug abuse campaigns of barangays.
The Board Regulation enjoins all city and municipal mayors to ensure the organization of Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BADAC) in all barangays under their areas of jurisdiction, such that all punong barangays should be directed to organize or revitalize their BADACs and its Committees on Operations and Advocacy and the BADAC Auxiliary Team.
The Regulation also directs punong barangays to appropriate a substantial portion of their respective annual budget to assist in or enhance the enforcement of the law, giving priority to preventive or educational programs and the rehabilitation or treatment of drug dependents.
The Regulation further urges punong barangays to formulate their Barangay Peace and Order and Public Safety Plan and Barangay Anti-Drug Plan of Action as its component.
Compliance monitoring
The said DDB Board Regulation states that all barangays are required to submit to their respective city or municipal Local Government Operations Officer (LGOO) within 10 days from the approval of their annual budget of the following calendar year their BADAC Plan of Action, the composition including names of the members of their BADAC, and the amount of budget allocated for their BADAC.
The LGOO shall document compliance and shall report to the DILG Central Office - National Barangay Operations Office (NBOO) all barangays who fail to comply with this directive for proper disposition.
Together with the chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP) in the locality and local Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) representative, the LGOO shall determine whether the budget allocated by the barangay to their BADAC is 'substantial' enough in accordance to the degree of drug affection in their barangay.
In June 2015, the DILG issued Memorandum Circular No. 2015-063 which calls for the revitalization of BADACs and stated their role in drug clearing operations. (DILG)
- See more at: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1141482126433/sueno-to-lgus-organize-badacs-allocate-budget-for-anti-drugs-drive#sthash.DJXwjjgv.dpuf
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