STA. ROSA CITY, Laguna — Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Assistant Secretary Ricojudge Janvier Echiverri on Thursday challenged about 4,018 newly-elected village chairpersons from the Calabarzon provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon to perform their mandates under the local government code and vital issuances or face raps.
Echiverri, DILG assistant secretary for external and legislative affairs, was among the speakers at the Calabarzon Regional Summit of the newly-elected barangay chairpersons who also took their oath before President Rodrigo Duterte in the last part of the general assembly and dialogue.
He reiterated to the village leaders their vital role in creating or reorganizing their respective Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (BADACs) in pursuit of the government’s relentless war on illegal drugs, criminality, corruption and violent extremism.
Echiverri noted that the DILG has already filed 16 administrative charges against erring barangay officials in Luzon, five of them in Manila and 11 from Masbate, as of May 3.
He said the cases serve as a warning to the incoming village officials on the government’s strict implementation of the law to ensure the barangays’ compliance and commitment to the anti-illegal drug initiatives.
The DILG official underscored the “must” organization of the BADAC and its operationalization based on the DILG and Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) Joint Memorandum Circular No. 1 series of 2018.
In the Calabarzon region alone, he said, DILG figures show that of the total 4,018 organized BADACs, Cavite has 829; Laguna, 681; Batangas, 1,078; Rizal, 188; and Quezon, 1,242.
“But, we should not only focus on the creation or reorganization of the BADAC because the more important part is that it should be functional,” Echiverri said, citing those who get a score of 50 percent or below, which is poor functionality, could be subject to administrative charges and due process.
He presented the drug abuse council’s 10 basic functionality indicators and their itemized scores — the BADAC creation or reorganization with 10 points; establishment of the barangay rehabilitation referral desk manned by two designated desk officers who should be trained (5 points); organization of house clusters with designated cluster leader (5); organization of BADAC Auxiliary Team (BAT) (5); and BADAC plan of action (10).
Higher scores are given to the allocation of fund where barangays fund the council’s annual budget or may seek financial assistance from the town/city to augment it (15); implementation of drug abuse prevention advocacy campaigns (15); implementation of drug clearing operations (15); implementation of community-based intervention for persons who use drugs (PWUDs) (15); and the conduct of the councils’ monthly meetings (5) for a total of 100 percent.
He said the creation or reorganization of at least the seven-member council which also requires two committees to be formed on Operations and the other on Advocacy and that the chairperson should undergo training and spearhead the conduct of stakeholders’ assembly.
The village’s house clusters could either be formed through the purok (sub-village), sitio (mini-village), zone or subdivision and the designated leader should also undergo training.
For the BAT, the auxiliary team should have 25 members for every 2,000 population, with a ratio of a BAT member to 80 residents for less than the 2,000 residents and the team shall also be required to undergo training.
Echiverri said that the approved BADAC plan should also be reflected in the Barangay Peace and Order and Public Safety Plan, and such BADAC plan should be part of the barangay’s approved annual budget.
He told village leaders that their awareness and advocacy campaigns are organized as school-based or community-based awareness campaign activities, and/or any activity related to drug use prevention pursuant to the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs mandated under Executive Order No. 15 signed by President Duterte to spearhead the conduct of advocacy campaigns where DILG heads the advocacy cluster.
“You have to submit quarterly and year-end reports in the annual barangay drug clearing report to your higher local government unit, either the city or municipality CADAC/MADAC and other proper authorities like the local police,” he said.
He also observed that barangay leaders are having difficulty in submitting information on persons who use drugs or residents who surrendered, saying that “this is a requirement, which also includes those undergoing recovery interventions, among other rehab efforts for their Community Support, Aftercare and Reintegration Program Plan.”
He assured the performing barangays that incentives and rewards are at stake for those who achieve excellent ratings, ranging from 85 to 100 points such as awards, commendations and recognitions by award-giving bodies, such as the DILG’s Seal of Good Local Governance and other agencies, such as the Dangerous Drugs Board, PNP, PDEA and by the private sector. (PNA)
