COTABATO CITY --- Some 2,114 barangays in the
Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM) have organized anti-drug abuse
councils, which are aimed at preventing corruption, illegal drugs, and
criminality at the community level.
Atty. Noor Hafizullah “Kirby” M. Abdullah,
secretary of the ARMM’s Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said
the regional government fully supports national programs aimed at combating the
illegal drug problem, especially at the barangay level.
The national office of the DILG earlier issued
memorandum circulars for a unified action against illegal drugs among local
government units (LGUs). Barangay officials should establish, reactivate,
and/or strengthen anti-drug abuse councils, it noted.
The Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BADAC)
is considered as the first line of defense against the proliferation of
prohibited drugs in the community. It is composed of barangay officials and
barangay sectoral representatives having first-hand information about the
members of the community.
They are to work directly with the Philippine
National Police (PNP), together with Municipal Anti-Drug Abuse Council or
MADAC. The members of the BADAC are to plan, strategize, implement, and
evaluate programs and projects on drug abuse prevention.
Ariel Castillo, barangay chief of Townsite in
Maluso, Basilan whose BADAC is active, said this is a huge help in the
community as it eliminates drug-related cases and ensures the safety of
residents in his village.
Secretary Abdullah warned that barangay
officials may face a complaint on dereliction of duty if they fail to organize
a functional BADAC.
“All the barangays in the region must
organize their anti-drug abuse council since they are the frontlines in the
fight against the drug menace. Failure to do so is (tantamount to) violation of
the law,” Secretary Abdullah added.
In an official statement, DILG OIC-Secretary
Catalino S. Cuy called for LGUs to install drop boxes in their communities
under its MASA MASID (Mamamayang Ayaw sa Anomalya, Mamamayang Ayaw sa Iligal na
Droga) project.
Secretary Cuy said setting up drop boxes is
just one of the channels by which the public may provide feedback, comments,
suggestions, or recommendations to the government on its anti-criminality drive
for proper assessment and referral to appropriate agencies.
Other DILG and local government channels are:
a hotline, electronic mail, short messaging system, or texts, among others. (BUREAU
OF PUBLIC INFORMATION – ARMM / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)
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