BAGUIO CITY – The city government’s Anti-Drug Abuse Council (CADAC) is setting up places for counseling and a Bahay Silangan to help reform persons who used drugs.
This, after the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) rated the Baguio CADAC with high functional performance in its 2023 audit.
CADAC secretariat Michelle Agbuya, during the Council’s 4th quarter meeting Friday, said a portion of the city library will be used as anti-drugs counselling area where Out-of-School-Youth and street children can go to for help.
She said coordination was already done with the City Librarian for the establishment and operation of Special Drug Education Center (SDEC) as mandated by DILG.
She said use of the space is temporary since the center is required to have a vocational room, tutoring room, counseling room, library, conference room, comfort rooms, sleeping quarters, dining area, kitchen, and office space for the staff.
During the same meeting, Millicent Carino, DILG city officer, said that of the 128 Barangay (village) ADACs, only four remain with low functionalities last year.
She said ADACs are being assessed to ensure the continuous improvement of performance in the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of anti-illegal drug activities using a 10-point key indicator rating system.
The annual assessment of ADAC performance is in line with the priorities of the national government to continue the campaign against illegal drugs within the ambit of the law and with respect to human rights.
The city is also eyeing the Philippine Nurses Association building beside the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) or “Silungan Center” for a Balay Silangan, a drug reformation program for Persons Who Used Drugs (PWUDs) in Baguio City. (PNA)