11 provinces ‘perfect’ in fight vs illegal drugs

Dinagat Islands and Agusan del Sur provinces received recognition during the 2nd National Anti-Drug Abuse Council (ADAC) Performance Awards held at The Manila Hotel on Monday, 16 December, for achieving a 100-percent performance in their local anti-drug abuse councils.

The Caraga Administrative Region provinces were among the 11 provinces in the country with a perfect score and received the award established last year through a Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2018-01 issued by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB).

DILG and DDB set the performance indicators of a functional ADAC as a measurement for effectiveness in support of the reduction of drug affectation in the country.

The local government units of Mountain Province, La Union, Quirino, Tarlac, Laguna, Quezon, Camiguin, Davao de Oro, Davao Oriental also scored perfect in the Province category, part of the total 155 which garnered 100%.

Pasig and Navotas were the National Capital Regions cities that tallied 100%, too.

To post a perfect score, either they maintained or decreased their drug affectation rate based on data provided by the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

The DILG also issued a subsequent Memorandum Circular No. 2019-117 that established the ADAC performance audit to gather data on ADAC functionality and effectiveness and determine the highly functional ADACs. The audit covers 81 provincial ADACs, 146 city ADACs, and 1,488 municipal ADACs.

“The credit goes to former governor and now Congressman Adolph Edward Plaza for his relentless efforts,” said Agusan del Sur Governor Santiago Cane Jr., in a message posted on the province’s Facebook Page on Tuesday.

Cane said he hopes the current administration can maintain what he described as a “splendid performance against illegal drugs” in the province.

“We are proud to declare that Dinagat Islands has never had any casualties in the drug war since the beginning of the Bag-ao Administration,” said Dinagat Information Officer Jeff Crisostomo, who received the award on behalf of Governor Arlene Kaka Bag-ao.

Crisostomo said drug surrenderees in Dinagat are treated humanely and being rehabilitated at the community level.

“Governor Kaka believes in resolving the drug problem with a human rights-based approach and looking at it not only as a criminal issue but also as a mental health issue rooted in poverty and the lack of opportunities,” Crisostomo said. (PNA)