Capitol Strengthens Fight Against Illegal Drugs
Along with the country’s intensified fight against illegal drugs, the Cebu Provincial Government also continues to strengthen its Sugbo Kontra Droga (SUKOD) program.
“We support the war on drugs sa atong President. We are still looking out and monitoring our barangays through our community based drug rehabilitation program, and the reactivation of our Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (BADAC),” said Gov. Hilario P. Davide III in his speech during the regional assembly of Liga ng mga Barangay last April 10.
As of March 2018, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-7 has declared 160 drug-cleared barangays all over the province; an increase from the 120 drug-cleared barangays in the same period in 2017.
“We hope we increase our number of drug-cleared barangays,” Davide added.
Strengthening BADACs
Cebu Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Office (CPADAO) head Carmen “Ivy” Durano-Meca revealed that the Capitol continues to strengthen its SUKOD program, which started in 2014, by capacitating barangay officials and their respective BADACs and strengthening youth involvement.
“As what the governor has said, na-usab jud ang perception sa mga barangay in terms of accepting these programs under the SUKOD program,” Meca said during the weekly media forum of the Provincial Information Office’s last April 6.
Meca added that the program guides local government units on what specific programs need to be implemented in their area.
As for the nearing barangay election, Meca is confident that this will not affect the function of BADACs.
“I don’t think that with a new set of barangay officials later on, would not make the BADAC function. The new set of officials would really give us more hope especially to those barangays that are really affected,” Meca said.
Youth involvement
CPADAO started its youth campus tour in January this year, emphasizing their involvement in the rehabilitation program.
The office also continues its drug testing to secondary and tertiary students this year.
Meca is confident that these projects will aid in sustaining the number of drug-cleared barangays.
“As of March 2018, we have zero seriously-affected barangay in the province of Cebu. We have 555 barangays that are slightly affected and 455 barangays that are moderately affected. We have 21 that is unaffected,” said Meca.
www.cebu.gov.ph
