THE Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (Armm) has organized 2,114 barangay anti-drug abuse councils (Badacs) to prevent corruption, illegal drugs, and criminality at the community level.
Lawyer Noor Hafizullah Abdullah, secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in Armm, said the regional government fully supports national programs aimed at combating the illegal drug problem, especially at the village level.
The national office of the DILG earlier issued memorandum circulars for a unified action against illegal drugs among local government units.
The DILG noted that village officials should establish, reactivate, or strengthen anti-drug abuse councils.
The Badac is considered the first line of defense against the proliferation of prohibited drugs in the community. It is composed of village officials and village sectoral representatives having first-hand information about the members of the community.
They will work directly with the Philippine National Police, together with Municipal Anti-Drug Abuse Council.
The members of Badac plan, strategize, implement and evaluate programs and projects on drug abuse prevention.
Abdullah warned that village officials may face a complaint on dereliction of duty if they fail to organize a functional Badac.
“All the barangays in the region must organize their anti-drug abuse council since they are the front lines in the fight against the drug menace. Failure to do so is (tantamount to) violation of the law,” Abdullah added. (Bong Garcia/SunStar Philippines)