Village execs urged to strengthen Badac

THE City of Bacolod urged the barangay officials to strengthen their Barangay Drug Abuse Council (Badac) to address the drug problem within their areas of jurisdiction.

Executive assistant Samuel Montoyo, liaison head of City Drug Abuse Coucil (Cadac), said Wednesday the barangay officials should strengthen their Badac to arrest the drug personalities within their barangay.

He said from February 9 to April 15, of 61 barangays about 24 barangays were listed with no drug operations by the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO).

gWe need the cooperation of Badac because they have a big responsibility to address the drug problem within their barangay,h he added.

In 2018, the 61 barangays have already activated their Badac.

Badac is headed by the village chief with its members the non-government organization and the BCPO.

Montoyo said most of the BCPOfs drug operations were conducted in the areas of Barangays 1, 2, 3, 8, Singcang-Airport, Banago, Mandalagan, Vista Alegre, Villamonte, Bata, Handumanan, Alijis, Felisa. Sum-ag, Tangub, Pta. Taytay, Estefania, Cabug and Granada.

gBadac should do their part to arrest the drug personalities operating in their barangay,h he said.

Montoyo will also submit its report to BCPO to monitor these barangays.

Ma. Joy Maredith Madayag, director of Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Bacolod, earlier said the Badac is meant to identify and monitor the drug personalities in the city.

gThey 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,h Madayag said.

Madayag said there are still tensions in some barangays because of the continued operation of the drug personalities.

gBadac should do its part on how to address this problem and it needs more effort to do it,h she said.

She added non-cooperative barangay officials will face administrative charges.

DILG also required the barangay officials to submit the lists of drug personalities within their villages.