The Pasig City local government recognized the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BADAC) of Barangay Sagad during the flag raising ceremony on Monday morning, Nov. 14, after it was declared "drug-cleared" as of October 2022
Barangay Sagad passed the parameters set and judged by the Regional Oversight Committee as part of the "Barangay Drug Clearing Program." The distinction was conferred by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
Along with the certificate of declaration, the barangay officials also received a cash reward worth P500,000 from the local government.
Barangay Captain of Sagad Marvin Benito, BADAC Sagad Officer Rain Galvez and Regina Licerio Sioco, along with barangay councilors Deo Portuguez Cruz, Lambert D.R. Martir, Alfredo Bonavente , Bojie C. Nazareth, and Secretary Percy Jocson accepted the award during the ceremony.
In his speech, Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto clarified that barangays recognized as “drug-cleared” are not necessarily “drug-free.”
"Ibig sabihin po ng 'drug-cleared' ay na-comply na po ang mga requirements at criteria ng PDEA. Ang mga nasa 'watch-list' ay nahuli na po natin. Wala na po 'yung dating mga nagtutulak sa ating barangay (‘Drug-cleared’ means the barangay has been able to comply with the requirements of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Pasig City Anti-Drug Abuse Office (PCADAO). We have caught all those included in the illegal drugs watch-list in the barangay),” he said.
Sotto emphasized the difficulty of earning such an achievement, giving further merits to the Sagad BADAC.
The mayor urged the affiliated government bodies to maintain the efficiency of the anti-drug abuse program, and continue to catch all individuals involved in manufacturing, selling, and possessing illegal drugs.
The "Community-based Drug Rehabilitation (CBDR) Program" also remains at the forefront of drug abuse intervention, he said.
The success of the program is a team effort, Sotto stressed, calling on the cooperation of the local police force, the Peace and Order Department, civil society organizations (CSOs), and interfaith groups.
"Ang ating point of improvement ay siguro ang aftercare natin...Importante po na tinututukan natin ang demand side. Ito ay isang healthcare crisis din po...May nailatag na po na ibang programa sa akin, naipresenta na rin sa Sangguniang Panlungsod. Ito ang tututukan natin sa tayong 2023 (Our point of improvement is perhaps our aftercare...It is important that we focus on the demand side since it is also a healthcare crisis...Some programs have been presented to me and relayed to the Sangguniang Panlungsod. We will focus on this in 2023),” Sotto said.
The nation is celebrating "Drug Abuse Prevention and Control (DAPC) Week" from Sunday, Nov. 13, to Saturday, Nov. 19, pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 124, dated November 26, 2001.
The theme for the year is “Addressing Drug Challenges in Health and Humanitarian Crises."
'Combat-ready' vs illegal drugs
The Pasig City local government's anti-drug abuse programs have previously been hailed for its efficiency. In 2019, Pasig was one of eight Metro Manila cities with exemplary performance in the 2019 and 2021 Anti-Drug Abuse Council Performance Audit by the DILG-National Capital Region (NCR).
The local government utilizes the CBDR approach in cooperation with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)'s "RenewHealth" program.
RenewHealth is a five-year program from May 2019 to May 2024 that aims to “help PWUDs, people in recovery, and their families obtain access to informal care, self-help or community-based rehabilitation and recovery support to reduce or prevent drug dependence.”
A part of the initiative is the General Intervention on Health and Wellness Awareness (GINHAWA), which focuses on preparing and screening people who use drugs (PWUDs).
USAID has also conducted intercity anti-drug abuse trainings in Pasig, attended by participants from Pasig, San Juan, Muntinlupa, and Mandaluyong.
Last October, Sotto and Vice Mayor Robert “Dodot” Jaworski Jr. met with United States Foreign Assistance Deputy Director Dr. Tracy Carson and USAID Deputy Mission Director Rebekah Eubanks as they inspected the CBDR programs in the city.
Last January, the Mobile Drug Testing Clinic (MDTC) was launched as an accessible testing site for PWUDs by the Substance Abuse Office of Pasig (SATOP), the Anti-Drug Abuse Council of Pasig (ADCOP).
The city has also rewarded the efforts of police assets and informants who are able to aid in anti-illegal drugs operations, giving them cash incentives ranging from P30,000 to P8,000.
The local government has also held training sessions for local tricycle operators and drivers association (TODA) groups to help in raising awareness on illegal drug use.