DILG-NCR held a series of orientations on the Barangay Drug Clearing Program (BDCP) Omnibus Guidelines and Refresher on the Integrated Drug Monitoring and Reporting System (IDMRS) for the 17 LGUs of Metro Manila.

Held from November 3 to 5, Anti-Drug Abuse Council (ADAC) Action Officers, Information Technology personnel, and Local Government Operations Officers (LGOOs) participated in the activity held in Caloocan, Mandaluyong and Taguig.

It aims to support NCR Anti-Drug Abuse Councils in dispensing its functions and continuously implement anti-drug abuse programs despite the pandemic. The activity was also a venue to tackle concerns on barangay drug clearing operations.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency NCR (PDEA NCR) Assistant Regional Director Irvin John Coderis led the discussion of PDEA Memorandum Circular No. 2020-026 or the Omnibus Procedures in Declaring a Drug-Affected Barangay as ‘Drug-Cleared’ under the BDCP.

On the other hand, Jahn Marco Suguitan of the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) led the IDMRS hands-on training. The system collects, manages, and analyzes data and information on drug abuse prevention and control.

DILG NCR Local Government Monitoring and Evaluation Division Chief Elsie Castillo noted that the activity is part of the DILG’s efforts to ensure that communities remain drug-free in the new normal.

“COVID-19 is everywhere; we have to live with it. Nandiyan na siya, pero hindi titigil ang mundo o ang mga programa natin dahil sa pandemya. We need to move forward and serve our citizenry,” Castillo stressed. #

~ RTA Ma. Rica Mae A. Santos