The country’s 41,906 Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (Badacs) will be assessed starting April 1, to ensure their continued progress and improved performance in the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of anti-illegal drugs activities within their locality, according to the Department of the Interior and Local Government.
“Badacs have a critical role in the whole-of-government approach in countering the proliferation of illegal drugs in the communities. The assessment of Badacs starting on April 1 is a necessary calibration to ensure that each Badac is not only organized but also functioning and meeting the standard set by the national government,” said Sec. Eduardo M. Año.
“The Duterte administration is resolute in its anti-illegal drugs campaign down to the communities until the last day of his term, and guaranteeing Badacs are well-oiled or smoothly functioning and assessing their progress are contributory to protecting communities against illegal drugs and their perpetrators,” he added.
Through an advisory, he said DILG regional offices must assess at least 93 percent of the Badacs within their area of jurisdiction to gauge their level of performance in implementing programs and instituting measures against illegal drugs.
According to the DILG’s National Barangay Operations Office (NBOO), there are 41,906 Badacs nationwide with Luzon holding the most number with 20,440 followed by 11,413 in Visayas, and Mindanao tallying 10,053.
With respect to various alert levels currently being implemented in the country, Año said that in barangays under alert levels 3, 4, and 5, the assessment must be put on hold and will only resume once those areas are placed under alert Level 2 and below.
Año said that provincial, city, or municipal audit reports must be submitted to the DILG regional offices in consideration of the deadline set by the DILG central office on the submission of the Regional Summary Report to the NBOO which is on or before July 15. – Press release
April 24, 2024
