Deretsahan
Liquidation of funds imperative
By Bebot Villar
THE year 2015 has ended and accountability for funds released and spent must already be established.
The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002 has made it a state policy to provide assistance to drug users and dependents through effective programs of treatment and rehabilitation in government centers. It also mandates the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) to grant financial assistance to government treatment and rehabilitation centers which may be utilized to construct dormitories and other facilities for its patients.
Since hindi biro ang pondo na binibigay ng DDB, we have to require the submission of liquidation reports from our grantees. Mula sa kabang – bayan ang perang ito kaya kailangang may pananagutan ang mga nakinabang dito. We need proof that the funds were well spent. Kailangan natin ng kumpirmasyon kung talaga bang ginamit ang pondo sa pinaglaanan nitong proyekto.
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Since 2011, DDB has released P 20,000,000.00 as financial grant for the construction of a rehabilitation facility in Dagupan City. The amount complements the fund provided by the Department of Health bilang tulong na din mula sa amin sa DDB para sa mga nilapastangan ng bawal na gamot sa ating lalawigan. Dahil sa rehab center, hindi na mahihirapan ang ating mga drug dependents at ang kanilang pamilya na humingi ng tulong at maiayos ang kanilang sitwasyon.
From the said amount, around P 10,000,000.00 remains unliquidated! Ito ay nakapaloob sa isang Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) ng DDB, Department of Health Region 1 Medical Center at ng LGU ng Dagupan City noong July 11, 2013. Ayon sa MOA, ang pondo ay ipinadaan at idineposito sa LGU ng Dagupan City, na siyang may tungkulin na magsumite ng liquidation reports sa DDB.
Isang dormitoryo at perimeter fence ay matagal ng naitayo gamit ang nasabing P10,000,000.00 subalit lumipas na ang mahigit sa dalawang taon ay hindi pa rin nakakapag-sumite ng liquidation reports ang LGU ng Dagupan City. Bakit hindi nagagawa ng LGU ng Dagupan City ang kanilang obligasyong gumawa ng liquidation reports?
Paging Dagupan Mayor Belen Fernandez! Sana maaksyunan na natin agad ito at huwag na natin hintayin pa na lumaki ang problema!
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The 2012 DDB survey on drug abuse in the country says domestic drug prevalence stands at approximately 1.3 million people. Although the level is still manageable, do we have to wait for this number to rise, knowing that foreign drug syndicates are gradually expanding their operations into Philippines?
Malaki ang pasasalamat natin sa Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Philippine National Police Anti – Illegal Drugs Group (PNP – AIDG) and National Bureau of Investigation Anti – Illegal Drugs Unit (NBI – AIDU) for their untiring efforts to operate against unscrupulous individuals who engage in drug trafficking. Madami po silang nahuling drug personalities last year, especially last December kung saan sunud–sunod ang kanilang anti – drug operations!
In the demand reduction aspect of our fight against illegal drugs, halos naikot na ng DDB Secretariat ang buong bansa, kasama ang kanilang partners from both public and private sectors, sa kanilang misyon na ilayo ang ating mga kababayan sa iligal na droga. Mayroon din tayong local government units at government agencies na may sariling mga programa kontra paggamit ng iligal na droga.
But we need more champions in our legislature to ensure that our agenda of significantly reducing drug trafficking and use in the country remains a priority of this administration and the next. Although our Committee Chairpersons on Illegal Drugs in both Houses of Congress have guided policy formulation and improvement effectively, we still need more warm bodies to back up these Committees, including in local levels.
Former PDEA Director General Dionisio Santiago is the man we need to champion our concern on illegal drugs in Congress. Hindi biro ang karanasan ni Director General Santiago sa pakiki-sagupa kontra iligal na droga. Bago siya maging PDEA Director General ay naging Executive Director siya ng DDB. Dahil dito, mayroon siyang karanasan sa paghubog ng polisiya patungkol sa iligal na droga bilang DDB Executive Director at sa implementasyon ng batas bilang PDEA Director General!
Huwag tayo papadala sa iba’t – ibang gimik ng mga kandidato ngayong eleksyon. Pag–aralan natin ang kanilang plataporma at karanasan sa public service. Huwag tayo makuntento sa mga kandidatong puro papogi at pakyut lamang ang alam, dahil kung ito ang pakay natin ay pwede naman natin ito makita lamang natin sa telebisyon o sinehan! Maging responsable po tayo sa pagboto sa darating na halalan!
(For your comments and reactions, please email to: punch.sunday@gmail.com)
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