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AN AUDIO VIDEO PRESENTATION
Another milestone towards strengthening the anti-illegal drugs advocacy in the province of Zambales was successfully conducted on December 5-7, 2022 via zoom platform. Various national government agencies and stakeholders came together in this continuing peacekeeping and drug-free effort to reiterate the vital roles of the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (BADACs)–as front liners in the fight against illegal drugs.
In attendance are the BADAC Members from the 230 barangays across the 13 municipalities in the province that were clustered into three (3) groups. Cluster I comprises the barangays from Subic, Castillejos, San Marcelino, San Antonio, and San Narciso, while Cluster II are from San Felipe, Cabangan, Botolan, and Iba. Meanwhile, barangays from Palauig, Masinloc, Candelaria, and Sta. Cruz constituted Cluster III.
Dubbed as Strengthening Institutional Capacities of Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (SICAP-BADAC), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Zambales spearheaded the said concerted activity, in partnership with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Health and Provincial Government of Zambales through the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO).
By introducing new strategies and programs as well as the knowledge and skills necessary to properly carry out their duties and functions, the said endeavor aims to further increase the BADACs' capacity to organize and carry out drug abuse prevention programs and activities.
In his message, DILG Zambales Provincial Director Martin Porres B. Moral acknowledge the efforts of the BADACs in the fight against illegal drugs in their barangays. “Alam naman natin na gusto ng ating pangulo na ipagpatuloy ang programa tungkol sa drugs...We have launch the BIDA (Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan) program na nagbibigay halaga sa mga importanteng bagay lalo na sa kalusugan at pagpapahalaga sa buhay ng bawat isa. Disiplina ang patuloy nating kampanya upang ang mga iligal na gawain ay maisantabi at pahalagaan ng buhay at pamilya natin”, PD Moral further underscored the importance of discipline in addressing the proliferation of illegal drugs in the community.
DILG Zambales Cluster Team Leader/ LGOO VII Melissa D. Nipal also emphasized the need to further capacitate the BADACs especially in the new normal. “Although virtual po tayo ngayon due to the pandemic and busy schedules, there still a need to capacitate and empower ang BADACs to effectively and efficiently perform your duties as national government’s partner in the fight against illegal drugs”, CTL Nipal reiterated.
During the simultaneous activity, LGOO V Stephany A. Panaligan, Provincial ADAC Focal Person, provided an overview on the topics. Likewise, Program Manager/ LGOO VI Threeks F. Fontamillas led the discussion on the BADAC and its mandate, emphasizing the functionality indicators that must be passed by the said council.
Program Manager Fontamillas, PDEA Provincial Officer IA V Jigger Juniller, PLTCOL Joe Louies I Lo of Zambales Police Provincial Office, Ms. Ailyn Eay of DepEd, Ms. Helen D. Luna of DOH and Ms. Carmela D. Pacis of PSWDO, served as resource persons during the 3-day activity and tackled the various topics which includes a refresher Course on BADAC Functionality; Sustaining the Implementation of Barangay Drug Clearing Program (BDCP); Anti-Illegal Drugs Operations through Reinforcement and Education (ADORE); Drug Prevention and Control; Strengthening Preventive Drug Education; Sustaining Anti-Illegal Drug Campaign - YAKAP Bayan Program;and Implementation of Drug-Free Workplace Policies.
The SICAP BADAC is a capacity development intervention program for BADACs guided by integrated approaches employed by the national government in its campaign against illegal drugs.
