Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 23) — The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) will assess 41,906 Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (BADACs) starting April 1 to ensure their functionality and effectiveness.
In a statement on Wednesday, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said the DILG Regional Offices (ROs) must assess at least 93 percent of the BADACs within their jurisdiction to gauge their level of performance in implementing programs and instituting measures against illegal drugs.
Provincial, city, or municipal audit reports must be submitted to the DILG RO on or before July 15, the deadline set by the DILG Central Office for the submission of the Regional Summary Report, Año added.
The assessment in barangays under Alert Levels 3, 4, and 5 must be put on hold and will only resume once these areas are placed under Alert Level 2 and below.
“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,” Año said.
BADACs are composed of the Punong Barangay, the Sangguniang Barangay Kagawad for Peace and Order, the Sangguniang Kabataan Chairperson, the Public School Principal or representative, the Executive Officer or Chief Tanod, representatives from non-government organizations and civil society organizations, and the Sangguniang Barangay Kagawad for Women and Family.
They are in charge of identifying drug-affected areas, creating a plan of action for the council, assigning roles and functions to barangay tanods and BADAC Auxiliary Team, assisting people of who use drugs but have surrendered to the Barangay Rehabilitation and Referral Desk, and monitoring individuals undertaking Community-Based Rehabilitation Treatment.
