A CITY Councilor in Cagayan de Oro City has urged anew village officials to reactivate their respective Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (Badac) in support of the government's strong campaign against illegal drugs.
City Councilor Romeo Calizo, chairman of the committee on police, fire and public safety, however, said some barangays who used to be inactive of the City Government's program are now supportive of the drug campaign.
“A number of newly-elected barangay captains are now responding because I am sure they have realized the importance of this especially the effect of pre-bargaining," he said.
"The problem is that what usually happens when the affected return home and their former colleagues in drug business will reach out to them, again. That's why it is very important for the barangays to strengthen their interventions," he added.
Calizo said this has been a recurring problem, this is why the role of Badac in profiling their constituents is the best tool in determining not only the drug users but also the drug pushers in the barangay level.
"I hope they would realize this is very necessary. We have our drug clearing scheme and the prime implementor of the anti-illegal drug campaign plan is the Badac because they have the cutting edge on this," he added.
After the barangay elections, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has given the newly-elected barangay officials an ultimatum to activate their Badac, otherwise they will be removed from their posts.
DILG officer-in-charge Eduardo Año said that upon the assumption of office of the newly-elected barangay officials, he will give them two months or 60 days to create their Badac and mobilize their anti-illegal drugs campaign.