THE 61 villages in Bacolod City have already activated their Barangay Drug Abuse Council (Badac) to address the drug problem within their areas of jurisdiction, an official of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Tuesday, April 24.
Ma. Joy Maredith Madayag, director of DILG-Bacolod, said the Badac is meant to identify and monitor the drug personalities in the city.
“Badac has a big responsibility in solving the drug problem in Bacolod,” she said.
Badac is headed by the village chief with its members the non-government organization and the Bacolod City Police Office.
Madayag said there are still tensions in some barangays because of the continued operation of the drug personalities.
“Badac should do its part on how to address this problem and it needs more effort to do it,” she said.
DILG also required the barangay officials to submit the lists of drug personalities within their villages.
“They are on the frontline and they are the ones who can identify the drug personalities within their areas of jurisdiction. It is the responsibility of the Badac to neutralize and to take actions to be a drug-free barangay,” Madayag said.
She said non-cooperative barangay officials will face administrative charges.
Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran earlier said that the City Government needs the support and cooperation of the village officials so they will be declared a drug-free barangay.
He said the City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (Cadac) is active on in its campaign against illegal drugs, but the barangay leaders are not doing their job due to fear of possible retaliation from the drug suspects.
Meanwhile, Madayag said they are still waiting for the four villages in Bacolod to deliver their State of Barangay Address (Soba) in compliance with the Local Government Code of 1991.
Since last month, only Barangays 33, 36, 38 and 39 failed to deliver their Soba out of the 61 villages, she said.
“The four villages should deliver their Soba within a month or else they will face charges,” Madayag added.
Madayag said Local Government Code of 1991 enjoins every barangay to deliver the Soba which includes their revenues and expenses.