TUGUEGARAO CITY, CAGAYAN - Coined as Orientation on SDEC Policy and ADAC Performance Audit cum 4th LEAD with DILG, DILG Cagayan convened the ADAC Focal persons, PNP officers, and Cagayan personnel to discuss Philippine anti-drug policies on April 27, 2021 via Zoom. Particularly discussed were the establishment of Special Drug Education Center (SDEC) for out-of-school youth and street children and the Anti-Drug Abuse Council Performance Audit for Calendar Years 2019 and 2020.
Cagayan Provincial Director Ruperto B. Maribbay Jr. discussed the necessity of employing measures in the local government that will prevent the youth from the ill-effects of illegal drugs. PD Maribbay also encouraged the LGUs to be proactive in establishing their respective SDEC.
Further, DILG Regional Director Jonathan Paul M. Leusen Jr. highlighted the need to unify the efforts against illegal drugs and ensuring public safety. He also shared that SDECs should not only be able to cater the out-of-school youth but also the other youth sectors such as students of learning institutions.
Mr. David Terante, Information System Analyst III of the Philippine Anti-Drug Strategy Project Management Office, discussed the policy guidelines on the implementation of the Anti-Drug Abuse Council (ADAC) Performance Audit. Mr. Daniel Caminade provided a walk-through on the ADAC Functionality Monitoring System which shall serve as the online platform for document submission and other audit related processes.
Meanwhile, Mr. Ferdinand Marcelo, Project Development Officer III of the DILG Central Office, provided an orientation on the features of the SDEC. The SDEC serves as a venue to deliver services and activities in the implementation of drug abuse prevention programs for out-of-school youth and street children. As such, the facility is mandatory for all provincial governments while the establishment of the same is highly encouraged for other LGUs. PDO III Marcelo also stated that considering the crucial function of the SDEC in molding the youth, it should be accessiblecommunity facilities, such as schools, churches, and hospitals, and must be far from conflict-affected areas. (SOURCE: LGOO II RENZ ANGELO P. UMAMBONG)
