By Dennis Baguio/PNA

IPIL, Zamboanga Sibugay — The Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) and the Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council (PADAC) have activated a performance audit team (PAT) to step up security and the anti-drugs operations in Zamboanga Sibugay province.
Palma told the Philippine News Agency (PNA) on Saturday that the PAT was activated through a resolution approved during the recent joint PPOC and PADAC quarterly meeting.
Palma said PAT’s activation was in keeping with the Department of the Interior and Local Government’s (DILG) directive to validate the programs and activities of all the local peace and order councils, and municipal and barangay anti-drug abuse councils (MADAC/BADAC).
Palma said validation would ensure stable peace and security, as well as consistency in the government’s campaign against illegal drugs.
He said that DILG Memorandum Circular 2018-19 stipulated the mandated tasks of all local peace and anti-drug abuse councils in the country, which include conducting quarterly meetings; allocating funds for the implementation of anti-drug activities; implementing peace and order programs as indicated in the Peace and Order and Public Safety Plan; and supporting and implementing barangay anti-drugs plans and programs.
“This is to ensure the continued performance of all local anti-drug abuse councils in the campaign against illegal drugs and for peace and security of the province,” Palma said.
He said the audit team will have jurisdiction over the 16 municipalities and 390 BADACs throughout the province.
