TUGUEGARAO CITY, September 1, 2020 — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region 2 through the Local Government Monitoring and Evaluation Division (LGMED) conducted the CY 2020 3rd Quarter Regional Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (RICAD) – Advocacy Cluster Virtual Meeting via Zoom on August 28, 2020, Friday.
This activity is pursuant to Executive Order No. 15, Series of 2017, entitled, "Creation of an Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD) and Anti-Illegal Drug Task Force to Suppress Drug Problem in the Country," by virtue of which the Regional Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-illegal Drugs (RICAD) Coordinating Group of Region 2 was created to help carry out the main objective of the Order to suppress the drug menace in the country, as it continues to destroy the moral fiber of society, undermine the rule of law, and threaten the development of our country.
The meeting was participated in by the RICAD – Advocacy Cluster Region 2 members, composed of fifteen (15) agencies in the region: PDEA R02, PNP PRO2, AFP 5TH ID, DOJ R02, PAO R02, DOJ-PPA R02, BJMP R02, CVCHD R02 (DOH), CHED R02, DepEd R02, DSWD R02, DOLE R02, TESDA R02, PIA R02, and PCG R02. True to their respective roles and mandate to the Cluster, the above-listed member agencies convene quarterly to present their respective accomplishment reports and discuss on recommended plans and programs of the Cluster for the succeeding period, and other pertinent matters in line with President Duterte's war on drugs.
DILG Regional Director Jonathan Paul M. Leusen, Jr., Chairperson of the RICAD – Advocacy Cluster Region 2, delivered his message to all the member agencies, and expressed his profound gratitude to all the attendees for gracing the activity in the face of their busy schedule and focus on COVID-19 responses.
"While we are faced with the problem of the pandemic, we do not stop, also, fighting illegal drugs," said RD Leusen on his message.
The agenda of the meeting focused on the following topics:
1. Presentation of Executive Order No. 15, s. 2017, entitled, "Creation of an Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD) and Anti-Illegal Drug Task Force to Suppress the Drug Problem in the Country" (ADC Maybelle E. Anog; DILG R02);
2. Presentation of Anti-Illegal Drug Related Issuances, Status of Drug Affectation and Barangay Drug Clearing Program (BDCP) Action Plan in Cagayan Valley Region (ARD Christy E. Silvan; PDEA R02);
3. Presentation of Drug-Free Workplace Program (ARD Christy E. Silvan; PDEA R02); and,
4. Recommended Plans and Programs of the Cluster for 2021 Implementation.
An open forum was conducted to thresh out issues and concerns of member agencies. The meeting concluded with the commitment of all member agencies to constantly perform their respective roles and submit their accomplishment reports to DILG R2 being the head of the Cluster. (SOURCE: ODY L. GRANETA, JR.)
