MALOLOS CITY - DILG Assistant Secretary for External and Legislative Affairs Ricojudge Janvier Echiverri has conferred the Anti-Drug Abuse Council (ADAC) Performance Audit Silver Award to the Provincial Government of Bulacan on February 14, 2019 at Provincial Capitol Gymnasium. This is in recognition of the Local Government Unit's excellence in ensuring the presence of mechanisms and programs that will help combat illegal drugs. Assisting Asec Echiverri were DILG-3 Regional Director Julie Daquioag and DILG Bulacan Provincial Director Darwin David.

Receiving the award was Bulacan Governor Hon. Wilhelmino Sy-Alvarado and Vice Governor Hon. Daniel Fernando.

Prior to the awarding, Asec Echiverri delivered his message where he stressed the importance of Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (BADACS) in the fight against illegal drugs.

He stated that the Department is strict in its implementation of the law to ensure the compliance and commitment of all Barangays to the anti-illegal drugs initiatives as they have already filed 16 administrative charges to sixteen (16) non-compliant Barangays nationwide. As for Region 3, he was glad to announce that all Barangays have functional BADACs. He continued to discuss the functionality indicators of BADAC which is composed of ten steps. He concluded his message with a quote from President Rodrigo Duterte which says, "The fight against illegal drugs will continue because that is the root cause of so much evil and suffering that weakens the social fabric and deters foreign investment from pouring in."