LAOAG CITY — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has cited the provincial government of Ilocos Norte for its all-out support to the national government’s campaign against illegal drugs.
On Monday, local officials led by Vice Governor Eugenio Angelo Marcos Barba received a plaque of appreciation at the Sangguniang Panlalawigan session hall from representatives of the DILG and the Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office (INPPO).
“Out of the total (number of) provinces in the country, Ilocos Norte has been chosen as one of the 15 awardees which means our Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council (PADAC) is active,” said Provincial Director Cesar Pasiwen of the INPPO.
Three other municipalities of Ilocos Norte were also awarded for having an active Municipal Anti-Drug Abuse Council (MADAC). These are the towns of Marcos, San Nicolas and Bacarra.
“We are very thankful for our local government units for their support,” Pasiwen added. Ilocos Norte’s PADAC gained an average of 85 to 99 points for its anti-drug drive based on the 2017 Anti-Drug Abuse Council Performance Audit.
Signed by DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año, the plaque of recognition was formally awarded at the Manila Hotel last December but was only turned over to the province on today, January 7.
Ilocos Norte has 557 barangays, of which 520 are drug-affected. Most of the affected villages are now drug-cleared.
In 2018, Ilocos Norte’s drug surrenderers totaled 6,459. Through the PADAC and MADAC, these individuals underwent voluntary and compulsory drug treatment and rehabilitation.
In recognition of the exemplary efforts of LGUs in eradicating the illegal drug problem in the country, the DILG created an award mechanism through functional Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (ADACs), which play a critical role in coordination and proper monitoring of drug-related incidents within the jurisdiction of the locality especially in the barangays.
An ADAC is a multi-sectoral council composed of local officials and representatives of various community organizations tasked to spearhead the planning, implementation, and monitoring of all local anti-drug abuse programs, projects and activities.
