At least 4K volunteer to help fight drugs, crime, corruption

CEBU, Philippines - A total of 4,670, so far, have volunteered to combat the proliferation of illegal activities in Cebu Province through reporting, according to an official of the Department of Interior and Local Government here.

 Dann Marr Andrino, DILG-Cebu focal person on anti-drugs, said 467 barangays have already submitted their lists of volunteers.

 At least 10,660 volunteers or 10 each barangay in Cebu are needed for the program. There are 1,066 barangays in the province, excluding those in Mandaue City (27), Cebu City (80), and Lapu-Lapu City (30).

 The volunteers will sign and take a pledge of commitment to report illegal activities in their respective communities.

Recruitment

Andrino admitted that they are having a hard time getting volunteers.

 "We have difficulty getting volunteers from the barangays because of the nature of the program. It's quite hard to attract or invite volunteers. It's really a challenge organizing Masa Masid teams in the barangay level," he said.

 "It's the department's challenge on how to entice or solicit volunteerism from the Cebuanos. We are taking advantage of the technology to invite them in our cause to minimize illegal drugs," he added.

DILG then directed the city and municipal government operations officers to hold mass orientations on the "ideals of the program."

 The agency also utilized social media and partnered with other government agencies.

 DILG provincial director Jerome Gonzales said earlier the volunteers will be oriented, for instance, on drug demand reduction through information campaign and drug supply reduction through reporting.

 Gonzales said they want to bring together members of the community as partners and Masa Masid is envisioned to unite different organizations in creating safer and drug-free communities.

 "The program stresses the importance of multi-sectoral linkages in communities in combatting the spread of illegal drugs, as well as corruption and criminality," he said.

Masa masid

 DILG launched the "Masa Masid" program last November 9 in Mandaue City.

 The program was developed to encourage communities to take a proactive stance in the government's fight against corruption, illegal drugs, and criminality.

Under DILG Memorandum Circular 2016-116, the program has four main thrusts: information and education campaign in communities for government programs against corruption, illegal drugs and criminality; creation of a reporting mechanism on illegal drugs-related activities; formulation of community-based rehabilitation programs; and revive the spirit of volunteerism by creating a volunteer-friendly atmosphere for organizations that wishes to be partners for change.

The circular also explains that existing Ugnayan ng Barangay at ng mga Simba-han  technical working group  in LGUs shall be expanded and shall be chaired by a City or Municipal Local Government Operations Officer, with representatives from a faith-based group, Liga ng Mga Barangay, Philippine Natio-nal Police, and City or Municipal Anti-Drug Abuse Council.

 The expanded UBAS TWG shall be responsible for promoting MASA MASID as a mechanism to respond to the needs of their respective LGUs, and shall provide technical assistance to MASA MASID Teams in every barangay.

 Barangay MASA MASID Teams will be composed of representatives of faith-based organizations, civil society organizations, non-government organizations, people's organizations, and CSO representative from the Barangay Peace and Order Council at Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council. (FREEMAN)