The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) is set to choose the top local government units (LGUs) with best performing local Anti-Drug Abuse Council (ADACs).
Consisting of 81, provinces, 146 cities and 1,488 municipalities nationwide, DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said the best anti illegal drug performing localities will be recognized after the stringent assessment of the performances of their respective ADACs from April to June this year.
“We will start the assessment of the ADACs to determine who are doing well and who are lagging behind in their anti-illegal drugs campaign,’’ Año said.
After the assessment, Año noted that the best performing ADACs will be recognized for their exemplary works in dealing with the country’s continuous campaign against illegal drugs.
Año noted that the “ADACs' performance must maintain steady progress to cope with the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte to rid communities of illegal drugs and its perpetrators.’’
He explained the said recognition and assessment will ensure that all ADACs nationwide are on the same page and are delivering according to the parameters established by the national government.
"Ensuring that ADACs are effectively performing their mandate is a paramount priority for the DILG. These ADACs are our allies in our anti-illegal drugs campaign kaya nararapat lamang na kilalanin natin ang kanilang natatanging mga ambag sa pagsugpo sa iligal na droga sa bansa (that is why they should be recognized for their exemplary contribution to fight illegal drugs in the country," Año said.
“Thus, it is also vital to evaluate their performance and see what can still be improved in our policies and enforcements," he added.
Through DILG Memorandum Circular (MC) 2022-034, Año said that outstanding ADACs will be determined using the following criteria: Barangay ADAC (BADAC) functionality or the percentage of total barangays with highly functional BADACs (30 points); sustainability of 'drug-cleared' or 'drug-free' status (40 points); and, reduction of drug affectation as of 2020 (30 points).
The ADACs that garnered 75 or more points shall be awarded in a ceremony to be organized by the Philippine Anti-Illegal Drugs Strategy-Project Management Office (PADS-PMO) to recognize and incentivize the best-performing ADACS in the country.
To be eligible for the award, Año said that the ADACs should first attain a high rating and rated as Highly Functional in the ADAC Performance Audit to be conducted by the DILG, through the PADS-PMO that will assess their functionality and effectiveness in the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of anti-illegal drug activities.
He noted that the functionality of ADACs and their audit score shall be determined in terms of organized Local ADAC; conduct of ADAC meetings; allocation of funds for anti-illegal drug activities; formulation and implementation of ADAC plans and program; supervision and support to Component ADACs; and, their innovations.
The ADACs which attained 85 to 100 points will be classified as Highly Functional, those who gained 51 to 84 points are Moderately Functional, while those with 50 points and below are Low Functional.
“We are urging LGUs to strive for excellence and be proactive in their campaign against illegal drugs. LGUs who are effectively carrying out their duty in our ongoing campaign deserve to be awarded,” he noted.
Certificates shall be given to Moderate and Highly Functional ADACs, while appropriate legal action and/or intervention shall be recommended to Low functional councils.
The ADAC performance audit is a collaboration between national government agencies (NGAs) and LGUs as well as civil society organizations (CSOs) that employs a multi-level and participatory audit structure to assure the integrity of the audit process and its results.
“ADACs at the provincial, city and municipal levels are composed of the concerned local chief executive as chairperson and with members from the Philippine National Police (PNP), DILG, Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Justice (DOJ), local courts, as well as the local health officer, social welfare and development officer, public information officer parole and probation and parole officer and two representatives from non-government organizations and one representative from interfaith groups,’’ the DILG noted. (Chito A. Chavez)