All Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Committees (Badac) in Pampanga's 505 villages have been reorganized for a heightened campaign at the grassroots level, gathering in the City of San Fernando on Friday for a summit organized by the provincial government.
House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and administration senatorial candidates Francis Tolentino, Ronald de la Rosa and Bong Go encouraged Badac members to never rest in efforts to clear villages of prohibited drugs.
“There can be no real economic growth without a stable peace and order situation,” said Tolentino who presented himself as “Tol ng Bayan.”
The former Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chair also pushed for 10 years old as age of criminal liability. Tolentino reminded Badac that the anti-drug campaign was an effort of many people. “It takes a village to raise a good child,” he said.
De la Rosa, former director general of the Philippine National Police, said he was running for the Senate to help President Duterte's drive to make the country free from illegal drugs and the crimes these breed.
De la Rosa, also known as Bato, told Badac members to “guard and protect the family” as a strategy in keeping young people away from drugs. He sang to remind the youth they were his reasons for running for public office.
Go, former special assistant to President Duterte, arrived late for the 1 p.m. program, having visited families who survived a large fire in Orani, Bataan. Go said he would create more Malasakit Centers to help in the medical needs of the poor.
Based on a joint memorandum circular in January 2018, the Badac now consists of the barangay captain as chair, the village councilors who head the peace and order and children and family affairs committees, the Sangguniang Kabataan chair, the chief of barangay tanods, representative of a non-government organization or faith-based group, and the area's chief of police as adviser.
An audit of Badac performance in 2017 showed many Pampanga Badacs to have low to moderate functionality.
Vice Governor Dennis “Delta” Pineda urged various sectors to assist Badacs to help them accomplish and improve their tasks.
Governor Lilia Pineda said the anti-drugs campaign should be a continuing drive. “If you go easy, drug syndicates, peddlers and users come back. Our villages need to be safe,” said the outgoing governor.