Department of the Interior and Local Government Sec. Eduardo Año said 92 local government units will receive show-cause orders for the low functionality of their respective anti-drug abuse councils “to induce needed change and proactivity in the part of the local government.”
Año said that these ADACs have failed to meet the parameters set by the DILG and have registered the lowest rating among the LGUs monitored and evaluated.
“Sometimes we need to shake them up for us to come up with the best results possible. Napakahalaga ng gampanin ng ADAC sa pagsusulong ng adhikain ng pamahalaan laban sa iligal na droga. We need all ADACs of LGUs to be on board,” he said.
The show cause orders for said LGUs will be served early next year, according toAño. Of the 92 LGUs with low functional ADACs, 84 are municipalities, four are cities, and four are provinces.
DILG Usec. for External and Legislative Affairs Ricojudge Janvier M. Echiverri howver said that LGUs with newly-elected officials (NEOs) whose ADACs have low functionality scores will not be issued show cause orders but “will be informed about their ADAC’s dismal performance and enjoined to initiate significant reforms in the anti-illegal drugs drive in their respective localities.”
“The DILG will not issue show cause orders to them (LGUs with NEOs whose ADACS failed), because their LGU’s performance cannot be attributed to them since they are new in their posts, but to the previous administration who fell short in meeting the parameters set by the DILG,” he said.
He however said that the functionality of each ADAC to effectively perform this year will now be in the shoulders of the NEOs who will have a crack at heading the program in line with their administration’s vision.
“This year, the ball is in your hands and you will be held accountable for the anti-illegal drugs performance of your LGU. You have to act aggressively against illegal drugs so your ADAC functionality will improve next year,” he said.
Six hundred forty-eight (648) LGUs were recently recognized during the second 2019 National ADAC Performance Awards “for their efforts in ensuring drug-free communities” by complementing the national government’s anti-illegal drugs program through their local ADACs.
Año said of the 648 ADAC awardees, 155 LGUs got perfect scores in the performance audit or ideal, while 493 LGUs garnered high ADAC functionality scores between 85 and 99 with an adjectival rating of high functionality. Plaques of commendation were given to both ADACs with perfect scores and high functionality scores.
The DILG serves as the chairperson of the Anti-Drug Abuse Council-National Audit Team which conducted the national calibration and corroborate the audit results of the ADAC performance audit. Other members of the team are representatives from the Dangerous Drugs Board, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Philippine National Police, and Caritas Manila as civil society representative.
The criteria used in measuring the performance of the ADACs are: organized local ADAC; conduct of quarterly meetings; allocation of funds; implementation of ADAC plans and programs; support to ADACs in component LGUs; and innovations. – DILG release
