DILG sets performance audit for anti-drug body

CEBU, Philippines — The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) is set to start a performance audit for all Anti-Drug Abuse Councils which will be made as basis for the recognition to be given within the year.

The DILG has been encouraging local government units since 1998 to organize their respective anti-drug abuse council. This multi-sectoral council is responsible for the formulation of plans and the implementation of local anti-drug abuse programs, projects, and activities.

Under the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 2023-2028, for the government's efforts to be people-centered, holistic, and human rights rights-based, and security, it shall promote a holistic approach to counter the proliferation of illegal and dangerous drugs to ensure peace and security.

It further stressed the importance of a whole-of-nation approach in addressing the problem of illegal drugs thereby, placing the LGUs and the DILG to be at the forefront of the anti-illegal drugs program.

The Buhay Ingatan, Droga'y Ayawan (BIDA) Program serves as the umbrella program of the DILG for awareness on the adverse effects of the use of illegal drugs and to recognize the importance of galvanizing the community, duty-bearers, and stakeholders to take urgent action to protect the rights of the people by strengthening its efforts on drug use prevention, rehabilitation, and control.

DILG Secretary Benhur Abalos said that the BIDA seeks to improve the quality of life and safeguard the Filipino people from criminality and the ill effects of drugs in a manner that is within the framework of law and with respect for human rights.

And to ensure the continuous improvement in the performance of ADACs in the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of anti-illegal drug activities, the DILG, through the Philippine Anti-lllegal Drugs Strategy -Project Management Office (PADS-PMO), supervised by the Bureau of Local Government Supervision will be conducting a Performance Audit covering Provincial, City, and Municipal ADACs.

The ADAC Performance Audit is expected to assess the functionality and effectiveness of local ADACs based on existing issuances and policies, determine ADAC-initiated and/or endorsed innovations, and best practices at all levels; create an evaluation, and assessment platform; and recognize effective and performing ADACs.

The performance audit will be done in five phases. Phase 1 is data gathering and uploading phase for component cities and municipalities from March 13 to 31 and April 15 to April 21 for provinces, highly urbanized cities (HUCs), and independent component cities (ICCs.)

Phase 2, on the other hand, will be the ADAC audit phase also set next month followed with the submission of audit results under phase 3 from April 29 to May 3 while phase 4 will be the audit results calibration and finalization and phase 5 being the presentation of ADAC functionality results in the month of May.

Results of the ADAC Performance Audit will also serve as one of the indicators of the Safety, Peace and Order (SPO) governance area of the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) under the requirement of establishing a functional local anti-drug abuse council. –/FPL (FREEMAN)