DILG to launch MASA MASID in NorMin

• Source: http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/1461478435710/dilg-to-launch-masa-masid-in-normin
• Sunday, November 6, 2016

By Elaine O. Ratunil (EOR/PIA)

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY, Nov. 6 (PIA) – Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) is all set to launch in Northern Mindanao its program, MASA MASID, in support to the pronouncement of Pres. Rodrigo Duterte to suppress criminality, corruption and illegal drugs in the country.

To be launched on Nov. 8 in Cagayan de Oro, Mamamayang Ayaw sa Anomalya, Mamamayang Ayaw sa Iligal na Droga (MASA MASID) is a barangay-based anti-criminality, anti-corruption, and anti-illegal drugs program which encourages multi-sectoral partnership to intensify the spirit of volunteerism at the community level.

NorMin DILG director Arnel M. Agabe said during the ‘Talakayan sa PIA,’ MASA MASID focuses on supply reduction, demand reduction and community rehabilitation.

Agabe further said that under the program, volunteers will be established in barangays to join the fight against these three problems by helping report cases of corruption, drug use and sale and criminality in their areas.

He said everyone is encouraged to get involve and support in intensifying its advocacy and education campaign against illegal activities to end he drug menace of the region.

DILG Memorandum Circular 2016-116 explains that existing Ugnayan ng Barangay at mga Simbahan (UBAS) Technical Working Groups in local government units (LGUs), which brought together barangay officials and religious groups for programs on good governance and community development, shall be expanded and shall be chaired by a City or Municipal Local Government Operations Officer, with representatives from a faith-based group, Liga ng mga Barangay, Philippine National Police (PNP), and City or Municipal Anti-Drug Abuse Council (C/MADAC).

Further, the expanded UBAS TWG shall be responsible for promoting MASA MASID as a mechanism to respond to the needs of their respective LGUs, and shall provide technical assistance to MASA MASID Teams in every barangay.

Barangay MASA MASID Teams, Agabe said will be composed of representatives of faith-based organizations, civil society organizations (CSOs), non-government organizations (NGOs), people’s organizations (POs), and CSO representative from the Barangay Peace and Order Council (BPOC) and Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BADAC).

With this efforts, MASA MASID also involves the drugs enforcement agencies and, likewise, the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) for the aftercare program to ensure these drug users will find jobs and will be given assistance by the national government after the rehabilitation program so they will no longer be involved with illegal drugs, said Agabe.

Meanwhile, the Talakayan sa PIA is a regular forum facilitated by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) where media personalities from radio, print and television and guests from government agencies gather to converse, thus heightening public awareness on specific government programs.