MANILA Mayor Joseph Estrada on Wednesday ordered the chairmen of the 896 barangays in the city to submit a list of known and suspected drug dependents in their respective jurisdictions.
In a memorandum to Arsenio Lacson Jr., head of the Manila Barangay Bureau, Estrada said that the city government needs the verified lists to facilitate the counseling and rehabilitation program for drug users who want to change their ways.
“You are hereby directed to prepare a status report of the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council [Badac] indicating the lists of suspected drug users and the names of drug users referred to counselling and rehabilitation program,” Estrada said in ordering Lacson.
Estrada also directed the barangay chairmen, through the MBB, to update the Office of the Mayor about their ongoing information campaign on drug demand reduction strategies in the communities.
Principally considered as the implementing agency of the Office of the Mayor, the MBB is tasked to synchronize the programs and projects of the city government with the barangays and disseminate information to barangay officials on matters relative to public policies, projects and programs of the city.