THE members of the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (Badac) underwent skills training in a bid to further strengthen Zamboanga City’s fight against illegal drugs.

Dr. Elmeir Apolinario, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (CDRRMO) chief, said the seminar workshop was focused on the Capability Enhancement on Barangay Drug Clearing Program.

The workshop was held under the auspices of the City Anti-Drug Abuse Council chaired by Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar.

Apolinario, who facilitated the training, said the seminar workshop was held in three batches – July 8-9, July 10-11 and July 12-13 with respected resource speakers who are experts in their respective fields.

He said the objective of the training is to make the Badacs better equipped in undertaking pre-emptive and pro-active measures in the war against illegal drugs and other substances, orient Badac members on new laws and regulations on drug operations and to make members understand and implement the community-based rehabilitation program.

Salazar, in synch with President Rodrigo Duterte’s all-out war against illegal drugs, has ordered authorities to further intensify the campaign against drugs hand in hand with the implementation of rehabilitation programs.

Apolinario said that various topics in line with the course description were properly discussed by speakers from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, City Prosecutor’s Office, Sonshine Rehabilitation Center and Ronald Rivera, the Technical Adviser to the Davao City Anti-Drug Abuse Council during the training. (Bong Garcia/SunStar Philippines)