Davao City awarded for implementation of anti-illegal drug campaign

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) XI presented the Davao City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (CADAC) with the 2022 Regional Anti-Drug Abuse Council Performance Awards at the Grand Regal Hotel on Tuesday, June 28, 2022, in recognition of the council’s performance in fulfilling its mandate against illegal drugs. The award was accepted by CADAC Head Mikey Aportadera.

Davao City received a ‘Highly Functioning’ evaluation for the CADAC’s performance in carrying out its duties and responsibilities in implementing the national government’s anti-illegal drug campaign. This was after the DILG’s XI’s awarding body—composed of representatives from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), and the Philippine National Police (PNP)—evaluated the CADAC’s performance for the year 2021.

CADAC program director Ronaldo Rivera told the City Information Tuesday that the awarding body assessed the CADAC’s performance through a number of criteria. These included the evaluation of the soundness of the executive order formulating and mandating the council, its functionality, innovation, and formulation and implementation of plans and programs—upon which the council garnered a total score of 97.5 out of 100.

Davao City’s ratio of “highly functioning barangays” or barangays that actively implement the national and local campaigns against illegal drugs for the year 2021 was evaluated to be very satisfactory, said Rivera. However, there is still work needed to improve the city’s score in the “Drug Clearing” criteria, which refers to the number of barangays deemed free of illegal drugs. Rivera added that the solution being eyed to address the pervasive presence of illegal drugs is the formulation of preventative programs against illicit drug use.

Rivera also said that the council’s main focus is on delivering the needs of its clients or “the over 6,000 individuals currently registered to the city’s treatment and rehabilitation programs” through various intervention and education programs. Also, it aims to provide former drug dependents with continuing care they need to be fully reintegrated back into society. CIO