Barangay anti-crime campaign launched this week

Interior and Local Government Secretary Ismael “Mike” Sueno. KING RODRIGUEZ/PPD

MANILA — The Department of Interior and Local Governments will launch on Wednesday a nationwide community-based volunteer organization to help in the fight against illegal drugs, corruption and criminality.

Interior Secretary Ismael Sueno, said in a statement, that volunteers and other stakeholders would be organized to make up an umbrella group of volunteers called Mamamayang Ayaw sa Anomalya, Mamamayang Ayaw sa Iligal na Droga (Mama Masid).

“We are banking on the participation of the common people and faith-based organizations to spark the spirit of volunteerism in all 42,000 barangays in the Philippines so we can address the long-standing battle against drugs, corruption and criminality by the end of December this year,” Sueno said.

According to Sueno, Mama Masid will use the multisectoral and mass-based approach as a tool to mobilize the support of local stakeholders, volunteers, civic and faith-based organizations and the private sector in a community.

Mama Masid would start with the organization and orientation of teams in priority barangays, Sueno said.

The next phase will be the actual enforcement, during which a reporting system will be set up. The DILG has yet to provide the mechanics of the reporting system.

Forums and seminars will be held and related information, education, and communication materials will be disseminated together with the implementation of community-based rehabilitation program, according to Sueno.

The last phase will include the periodic monitoring and evaluation of the program.

For the anti-drug campaign, Mama Masid will focus on three major interventions: demand reduction strategy through advocacy and education campaigns; demand and supply reduction through information gathering and reporting; and community-based rehabilitation program.

Mama Masid will be administered by a technical working group to be chaired by the DILG local government operations officers. The members are representatives from faith-based organizations, the barangay league, the local police, and the local anti-drug abuse council.  SFM