The Strengthening Institutional Capacities of Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (SICAP-BADAC) training activity for the Barangays in the National Capital Region was held at the Plaza Garden Hotel and Residences in Baguio City from October 7-9, 2024. The SICAP-BADAC is an anti-drug abuse initiative of the Department which aims to empower local government units with the knowledge and skills in their response as active barangay anti-drug abuse councils.
Welcoming the SICAP-BADAC participants was DILG-CAR Local Government Monitoring and Evaluation Division (LGMED) Chief Marleen M. Guerzon who assured the participants that DILG CAR will be sharing their best practices on the campaign against anti-illegal drugs through knowledge exchange sessions during the participantsâ stay throughout the three-day activity.
For her opening remarks, DILG-NCR Assistant Regional Director Atty. Ana Lyn R. Baltazar-Cortez, CESO IV emphasized how the said training activity is designed for the barangays to effectively understand and articulate functions and roles of Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils in the National Capital Region.
âSa pamamagitan ng pagpapalakas ng inyong mga kakayahan, layunin nating lumikha ng isang mas ligtas na kinabukasan sa ating mga komunidad,â ARD Baltazar-Cortez mentioned.
LGOO V Kris-Ann Faye A. Munda-Rebullana encouraged the participants to actively engage in the topics to be discussed. She further gave an overview of the course and set the expectations of the participants on the said activity. PDO III Dritchelle Polene M. Dumlao and RTA Velvet C. Pandaan discussed the SICAP-BADAC Legal Bases and Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (ADAC) Powers and Functions.
On the second day, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) represented by PLTCol. Ma. Carizza Morallos and PCPT Queen Rivera then presented the lectures on basic information collection, information gathering, and reporting information. Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-National Capital Region (PDEA-NCR) Jasmen Collado proceeded to discuss the Process of Declaring Drug-Affected Barangays into Drug-Cleared Barangays. A workshop on the preparation of the application folder and relevant document requirements was then held in the afternoon.
On the last day of the training, Baguio Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (ADAC) representative Michelle Agbuya shared their knowledge on Baguio City Best Practices on Anti-Illegal Drug Campaign and the Attainment of 100% Drug-Cleared Community.
In her closing remarks, DILG-NCR Regional Director Maria Lourdes L. Agustin, CESO III thanked the participants for completing the three-day activity which is a testament in itself of their dedication to the call of public service.
âNais kong ipaalala ang kahalagahan ng mga papel na ating ginagampanan sa paglaban sa banta ng droga sa ating mga komunidad. Kayo ang susi sa pagpapatibay ng programang ito na malaki ang maitutulong sa paglikha ng ligtas at mapayapang kapaligiran sa ating mga nasasakupan,â RD Agustin replied.
The conduct of the annual SICAP-BADAC is a continuous initiative of the Department in ensuring that barangays are able to respond effectively in the fight against illegal drugs.