Pubdate: Sat, 18 Jun 2005
Source: Manila Bulletin (The Philippines)
Contact:  http://www.mb.com.ph/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/906
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/areas/Philippines

BARANGAYS TO HAVE DRUG WATCH LIST

The local governments of Metro Manila are planning to put up a watch
list of suspected drug pushers in each locality down to the barangay
level as part of an intensified campaign against illegal drugs.

Following the holding of the country's first anti-drug summit at Hotel
Intercontinental in Makati City on Friday, local leaders who joined
the gathering agreed on several new initiatives.

One of them is the creation of a watch list in each locality. Persons
included in the list will be placed under surveillance and will be
target of police operations.

The plan hatched at the summit also called for greater coordination
between local officials, police anti-drug agencies, the fiscals'
office, the courts and barangay leaders.

The officials cited the need to get the people's trust, and for the
residents themselves to help enforce and anti-drug laws.

The summit also addressed the issue of rehabilitation. The officials
agreed to extend livelihood training and assistance to former drug
users and pushers after their release from jail.

Summit participants also agreed to create civilian volunteers in each
locality. The volunteers will augment the police units and provide
assistance in operations.

The volunteers will be made to undergo intensive screening and
training. They will be trained in intelligence gathering, medical and
emergency response, relevant anti-drug laws, court proceedings, and
values.

Earlier, vice mayors from Metro Manila's 17 cities and municipalities
formally organized the Metro Manila Association of Anti-Drug Abuse
Councils (MMADAC). They elected Makati Vice Mayor Ernesto S. Mercado
as chairman.

Mercado said MMADAC will be the body that will coordinate the
anti-drug campaigns of local government units of Metro Manila. It will
also provide a forum for sharing information and resources.

He said among the first moves of the MMADAC will be to study a
proposal to use the regulatory powers of local governments in
identifying drug lairs and monitoring drug-related activities in
localities. He said fire safety inspectors, engineering and sanitary
inspectors are authorized to conduct inspections of buildings,
warehouses and establishments and can be trained to look for
indications that a facility is being used to store or manufacture
illegal drugs.

Mercado, chair of the Makati Anti-Drug Abuse Council (MADAC), said the
Makati experience in fighting drug abuse and drug peddling will be
shared with the members of MMADAC.

Makati has been cited by the Philippine National Police (PNP) as a
"best practice" in the campaign against illegal drugs. Thirty of the
33 barangays in Makati City have been declared drug-free by the PNP.

Makati is the only LGU where barangays are formed into clusters, with
each cluster conducting anti-drug surveillance and operations in
coordination with the Makati Police. The city also employs over 100
civilian volunteers who serve as informants and undercover assets.

Aside from rehabilitation, Makati also has an after-care program that
provides financial and material assistance to reformed drug users and
pushers and their families. 
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