LGUs told: Prepare anti-drug plan of action based on local situation
MANILA, Philippines — Ahead of the launch of its flagship information campaign against illegal drugs, the Department of the Interior and Local Government urged local government units to formulate their anti-drug plan of action that responds to the needs of their localities.
“Our anti-illegal drugs campaign takes a whole-of-government approach which would only be efficient if we are able to execute plans such as local anti-drug plan of action (LADPA) and barangay anti-drug plan of action (BADPA) down at the grassroots. It is imperative that our LGUs work with us and draft their respective LADPAs and BADPAs in the barangays,” Abalos said.
"Our focus now is unity in the fight against illegal drugs up to the grassroots, just like our Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan Program."
In DILG Memorandum Circular No. 2022-141, Abalos encouraged provincial and city/municipal local chief executives to formulate their 2023-2025 LADPA within their first 200 days in office, specifying their anti-illegal drug programs and activities based on their localities’ drug situation.
He said the LADPA shall include the anti-illegal drugs situation of the locality for accurate decision-making; priority anti-illegal drugs issues and challenges; prioritizing supply and demand reduction; objectives to address the local issues and challenges; critical policies, programs, projects, services and activities for the anti-illegal drugs issues; and, funding requirements of the PPPSAs.
“The local Sanggunian shall appropriate the fund for the enforcement of the anti-illegal drug initiatives included in the LADPA and BADPA," he said.
He said that LGUs can contribute to the BIDA program, the revitalized anti-drug advocacy campaign of the government that aims to reduce drug demand in the communities by harnessing the support of LGUs, national government agencies, private sectors, faith-based organizations, and civil society organizations.
Abalos also urged barangay anti-drug councils to prepare their three-year plan that includes formulated strategies, identified projects and funding requirements.
The planning and submission of LADPA will be until December 2022, the DILG reminded local governments, while the encoding of the approved action plan will take place from January to March 2023. The preparation and submission of BADPA and its approval is from January to May 2023.
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