By Chito Chavez
The Quezon City government has intensified anew efforts to fight illegal drugs in the city and enlisted the assistance of volunteers at the barangay level.
Through the Quezon City Anti-Drug Abuse and Advisory Council (QCADAAC), incoming Mayor Joy Belmonte said it has ensured the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (BADAC) are performing their functions to the hilt.
(FACEBOOK / MANILA BULLETIN)
“Under QCADAAC, we have been making sure that the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils or BADACs are functional and effective in their mandate to suppress illegal drugs and criminality at the barangay level,’’ Belmonte said.
She noted that one way to ensure this is through the “recruitment of volunteers to help in the barangay's campaign against dangerous drugs.’’
According to a 2004 memorandum from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), barangay anti-drug councils are required to form a BADAC Auxiliary Team (BAT) to strengthen anti-drug efforts at the grassroots level and further involve all residents in reducing drug-related crimes.
The BAT must be composed of at least 25 members per 2000 residents of the barangay.
Belmonte said BADAC volunteers are expected help in reporting drug incidents and cases, facilitating an information campaign through their families and communities, and implementing programs that prevent drug addiction.
“We want to make sure that all BADACs have their auxiliary teams in place because we recognize that it is not only the barangay officials who know how best to combat illegal drugs in their communities,’’ she added.
Belmonte also cited the need of the senior members of society, retirees, youth, parents, members of homeowner’s associations, and other groups to share their expertise and provide ideas that will further strengthen the city’s all-out campaign against illegal drugs.
Through QCADAAC, Belmonte revealed the local government has implemented BADAC functionalization workshops for barangay chiefs in the city’s 142 barangays.
She noted that part of this is to boost community-based recovery support services through BADAC focal persons.
“In my three terms as Vice Mayor, one of my advocacies was really the fight against illegal drugs. We are happy that, in Quezon City, we have seen many barangays progress from being severely affected to moderately affected or slightly affected. We have been adding more and more drug-cleared barangays in the past months, and I can assure you that the local government will continue to do so,’’ Belmonte said.
“Under the new administration, we will partner more closely with our barangay officials and volunteers to make this happen while also making sure that our drug-cleared communities remain drug-resistant,’’ she added.
Earlier this year, Quezon City added five more barangays to its list of drug-cleared communities in the city, or a total of 30 barangays where no more illegal drug activities had been documented.
Some of the parameters of the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) to declare a drug-clear barangay are: non-availability of drug-supply, absence of drug transit, absence of clandestine laboratory and warehouse, absence of drug dens and drug pushers, and active involvement of the government, among others.
(FACEBOOK / MANILA BULLETIN)
“Under QCADAAC, we have been making sure that the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils or BADACs are functional and effective in their mandate to suppress illegal drugs and criminality at the barangay level,’’ Belmonte said.
She noted that one way to ensure this is through the “recruitment of volunteers to help in the barangay's campaign against dangerous drugs.’’
According to a 2004 memorandum from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), barangay anti-drug councils are required to form a BADAC Auxiliary Team (BAT) to strengthen anti-drug efforts at the grassroots level and further involve all residents in reducing drug-related crimes.
The BAT must be composed of at least 25 members per 2000 residents of the barangay.
Belmonte said BADAC volunteers are expected help in reporting drug incidents and cases, facilitating an information campaign through their families and communities, and implementing programs that prevent drug addiction.
“We want to make sure that all BADACs have their auxiliary teams in place because we recognize that it is not only the barangay officials who know how best to combat illegal drugs in their communities,’’ she added.
Belmonte also cited the need of the senior members of society, retirees, youth, parents, members of homeowner’s associations, and other groups to share their expertise and provide ideas that will further strengthen the city’s all-out campaign against illegal drugs.
Through QCADAAC, Belmonte revealed the local government has implemented BADAC functionalization workshops for barangay chiefs in the city’s 142 barangays.
She noted that part of this is to boost community-based recovery support services through BADAC focal persons.
“In my three terms as Vice Mayor, one of my advocacies was really the fight against illegal drugs. We are happy that, in Quezon City, we have seen many barangays progress from being severely affected to moderately affected or slightly affected. We have been adding more and more drug-cleared barangays in the past months, and I can assure you that the local government will continue to do so,’’ Belmonte said.
“Under the new administration, we will partner more closely with our barangay officials and volunteers to make this happen while also making sure that our drug-cleared communities remain drug-resistant,’’ she added.
Earlier this year, Quezon City added five more barangays to its list of drug-cleared communities in the city, or a total of 30 barangays where no more illegal drug activities had been documented.
Some of the parameters of the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) to declare a drug-clear barangay are: non-availability of drug-supply, absence of drug transit, absence of clandestine laboratory and warehouse, absence of drug dens and drug pushers, and active involvement of the government, among others.