Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin ‘Benhur’ Abalos Jr. urged the local government units (LGUs) on Thursday, Nov. 24, to organize their respective anti-illegal drug initiatives ahead of the grand launch of the Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan (BIDA) Program.
“Our anti-illegal drugs campaign takes a whole-of-government approach which would only be efficient if we are able to execute plans such as (LADPA) local anti-drug plan of action and BAPDA (Barangay Anti-Drug Plan of Action) down at the grassroots. It is imperative that our LGUs work with us and draft their respective LADPAs and BADPAs in the barangays,” Abalos pointed out.
Abalos explained that the national government focuses on organizing a massive anti-illegal drug campaign which will involve the grassroots like the BIDA Program.
He reminded the LGUs to include in their LADPA/BADPA initiatives and efforts action plans that “will strengthen their campaign against illegal drugs and specify programs and activities that shall be given budget allocation in their respective annual budget relative to anti-illegal drug efforts.’’
“The local Sanggunian shall appropriate the fund for the enforcement of the anti-illegal drug initiatives included in the LADPA and BADPA,” he added.
By doing this, Abalos stressed that the LGUs can significantly contribute to the BIDA program, the revitalized anti-drug advocacy campaign of the government that aims to reduce drug demand in the communities by harnessing the support of LGUs, national government agencies (NGAs), private sectors, faith-based organizations (FBOs, and civil society organizations (CSOs).
“Inaasahan po namin ang pakikiisa ninyo sa ating hangaring tuldukan ang iligal na droga sa bansa (We expect your (LGUs) cooperation in our goal to end the illegal drug woes in the country),’’ Abalos lamented.
LADPA/BADPA is anchored on Republic Act No. 9165 or the Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 which embodies the national government’s commitment to eradicating the country’s illegal drugs problem.
In DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2022-141, Abalos encouraged the provincial and city/municipal local chief executives (LCEs) to formulate their 2023-2025 LADPA within their first 200 days in office, specifying their anti-illegal drug programs and activities based on their localities’ drug situation.
The DILG chief emphasized that the LADPA shall include the anti-illegal drugs situation of the locality for accurate decision-making; priority anti-illegal drugs issues and challenges, prioritizing supply and demand reduction; objectives to address the local issues and challenges; critical policies, programs, projects, services and activities (PPPSAs) for the anti-illegal drugs issues; and, funding requirements of the PPPSAs.
He noted that the LADPA shall also include the physical and financial accomplishment reports of the existing LADPA.
Likewise, Abalos urged the Barangay Anti-illegal Drug Abuse Councils (BADACs) to prepare their three-year BADPA that includes the formulated strategies, identified projects and funding requirements.
The deadline in the planning and submission of LADPA is on Dec. 2022, while the encoding of the approved action plan shall proceed from Jan. to March 2023.
Likewise, the preparation and submission of BADPA and its approval shall take place from Jan. to May 2023. (Chito A. Chavez)