The Department of the Interior and
Local Government in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DILG-ARMM) launched
last week its community-based MASA MASID program on to empower communities and
fortify people’s participation in the war against illegal drugs, corruption,
and criminality.
MASA MASID, or ‘Mamamayang Ayaw Sa
Anomalya, Mamamayang Ayaw sa Iligal na Droga’ is an initiative aimed at
encouraging the communities in the region to take action against all forms of
irregularities and illegal activities, especially drug abuse.
The program is a collaborative work
involving the Philippine National Police (PNP), provincial and local government
officials, village chiefs, religious sectors, civil society groups, and other
nongovernmental organizations.
Under DILG Memorandum Circular
2016-116, the program has four main priorities: information and education
campaign in communities for government programs against corruption, illegal
drugs and criminality; creation of a reporting mechanism on illegal
drug-related activities; formulation of community-based rehabilitation
programs; and revival of the spirit of volunteerism by creating a
volunteer-friendly atmosphere for organizations that wish to be partners for
change.
The circular also explains that the
existing UBAS’s (Ugnayan ng Barangay at Simbahan) Technical Working Group in
local government units (LGUs) shall be expanded and shall be headed by a City
or Municipal Local Government Operations Officer, with representatives from a
faith-based group, Liga ng Mga Barangay, the PNP, and City or Municipal
Anti-Drug Abuse Council.
The expanded UBAS Technical Working
Group shall be responsible in promoting MASA MASID as a mechanism to respond to
the needs of their respective LGUs and shall provide technical assistance to
the program’s teams in every village.
Barangay MASA MASID teams will be
composed of representatives of faith-based organizations, civil society
organizations (CSOs), nongovernmental organizations, people’s organizations and
CSO representative from the Barangay Peace and Order Council and Barangay
Anti-Drug Abuse Council.
Regional data showed that in 2016,
there were 15 LGUs with 236 barangays and 7,962 surrenderers targeted for
intervention. For this year, another 31 LGUs with 529 barangays and 7,780
surenderers are projected to be covered by the DILG’s initiative.
After the launching of the program,
the attendees signed a pledge of commitment for the implementation of the MASA
MASID program in their respective areas. (BPI/PIA Lanao del Sur)
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