GENERAL SANTOS CITY, (PNA) — Anti-drug advocates in South Cotabato have launched a province-wide search for the top implementers of drug abuse prevention and control programs at the city, municipal and barangay levels.
Board member Agustin Dema-ala, Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council (PADAC) action officer, said Monday the search is mainly aimed at recognizing the efforts of city, municipal and barangay governments in addressing illegal drug-related problems in their areas.
He said a team of evaluators created by PADAC is now leading the initiative dubbed “2013 Search for the Most Outstanding Anti-Drug Abuse Councils.”
The team started visiting on Monday the province’s 10 towns and lone city as well as the shortlisted barangays to conduct the evaluation, he said.
Dema-ala said the team is composed of representatives from the Department of Education, Department of the Interior and the Local Government (DILG), Philippine National Police, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Provincial Information Office.
“The evaluation is centered on determining the functionality of the local anti-drug abuse councils in support to the campaign against illegal drugs in their localities,” the official said.
Dema-ala said the local councils will be evaluated according to organization functions (20 percent), specifically the existence of an executive order creating it; the number of meetings that it conducted; and, the minutes of its meetings.
The team will look at the councils’ administrative record (20 percent), which includes the presence of supporting documents like memorandum circulars coming from the DILG; presence of budgetary allocations intended for the council and its expenditures; and, barangay and city or municipal drug updates/situation reports, he said.
He said the remaining 60 percent will dwell on activities of the councils against illegal drugs, specifically the anti-illegal drug operations; information dissemination; and, awards and recognition received.
Dema-ala said the winners at the city or municipal levels will receive cash incentives of P40,000 (first); P30,000 (second); and, P20,000 (third).
For the barangay level, the cash incentives will range from P10,000 to P20,000.
The official added that the awarding rites are slated on November 22 at the South Cotabato Gym and Cultural Center as part of the province’s celebration of the Anti-Drug Abuse Awareness Week.