DAVAO CITY (MindaNews / 31 December) – Seven local government units (LGUs) in Mindanao are among 21 awardees of the 1st National Anti-Drug Abuse Performance Award conferred by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) that obtained 100% in the indicators used to score and measure the functionality of the provincial, city and municipal Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (ADACs.
The seven Mindanawon LGUs are the province of Davao Oriental; Tacurong City in Sultan Kudarat; and the towns of Nunungan in Lanao del Norte, Pantukan in Compostela Valley, Surallah in South Cotabato, Columbio and Esperanza in Sultan Kudarat.
Tourists cross the monkey bridge for fun and adventure at the Aliwagwag Falls in Cateel, Davao Oriental. The trees surrounding the falls have recovered from the devastation wrought by super typhoon Pablo in December 2012. The area has been developed and is now a favorite tourist destination. MindaNews photo taken in February 2016 by GG BUENO
The 14 other LGUs are the cities of Pasig, Quezon, San Juan, Valenzuela, Alaminos in Pangasinan, and the towns of Balaoan, Agoo and San Gabriel in La Union, Bayambang in Pangasinan; Orani, Bagac and Pilar in Bataan; Carmona in Cavite and Torrijo in Marinduque.
The DILG recently conferred the 1st National Anti-Drug Abuse Council (ADAC) Performance Awards to 241 outstanding LGUs with exemplary efforts, through their ADACs, ‘’in complementing the national government’s measures to eradicate the country’s illegal drugs problem.’
The National ADAC Performance Award is given to LGUs that achieved an adjectival rating of Ideal (high functionality) based on the 2017 ADAC Performance Audit;
The DILG announced the implementation of the 2017 ADAC Performance Audit through DILG Memorandum Circular 2018-159, to ensure the continued performance of the ADACs using audit criteria such as organized local ADAC; implementation of ADAC Plans and Programs; fund allocation; support to ADACs in component LGUs; and conduct of quarterly meetings.
Of 241 winners, only 21 scored perfect, a press release from the DILG on December 28, said. Seven of the 21 are from Mindanao.
The 21 LGUs will each receive P250,000 as incentive, while all of the 241 awardees will each get a plaque of recognition.
The 220 other LGUs garnered high functionality points between 85 to 99. Of this number, 21 are provinces, 17 are highly-urbanized cities and independent component cities, 15 are component cities, and 167 municipalities
“Congratulations to the winners! As we award today’s recipients, we are guaranteed that we can definitely rely on the LGUs to be our reliable partners in the war against illegal drugs,” Local Governments Secretary Eduardo Año said.
The DILG said local ADACs play a critical role in coordination and proper monitoring of drug-related incidents within the jurisdiction of the LGU, especially the barangays. (MindaNews)
