KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato (PIA) -- As part of the continuing campaign of the government against illegal drugs, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) here is tapping barangay workers as force multipliers.

PDEA, in partnership with the municipal government of Banga and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) trained 44 representatives from the town’s 22 barangays as anti-drug advocates on June 20-21.

PDEA 12 information officer Kat Abad said those trained will serve as their agency partners in drug demand reduction and sustainability activities.

According to Abad, 20 of the town’s 22 barangays were already declared "drug-cleared" by the oversight committee.

The two-day activity dubbed as Community-Based Anti-Illegal Drug Advocacy (CBAIDA) training of trainers is one of PDEA’s key strategies on sustainability under the Barangay Drug Clearing Program.

Aside from Banga, PDEA also conducted the training for the municipalities of Norala and Tampakan.

“For the rest of the year, ang efforts natin ay magstick pa rin sa barangay drug clearing program since ‘yun ang nakikita nating holistic approach that will eliminate our problem on illegal drugs,” Abad said.

The participants were given lectures on the current drug situation; drug identification; effects of drugs; establishment and institutionalization of drug-free workplace; and Balay Silangan – Guidelines for Community Involvement in Reforming Drug Offenders into Self-sufficient and Law Abiding Members of Society.

“Tuloy-tuloy ang barangay drug clearing program natin and under that ang pag-conduct ng anti-illegal drug operations as well as sustainability programs sa barangay through our preventive education and community involvement section sa PDEA,” Abad said.

Abad noted that they have already coordinated with the other LGUs in the province for the program roll-out within the year. (ORVR/PIA XII)