DILG urges LGUs to orient social facilitators

TABUK CITY, Kalinga - Local government units are urged to organize MASA MASID (MM) steering committees and teams to be oriented this month.

Helen Lacuesta of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) provincial office and focal person for the Mamamayang Ayaw Sa Anomalya, MamamayangAyaw Sa Iligal Na Droga or MASA MASID, said only Tinglayan has complied with the organization of social facilitators who were oriented on their roles and enrolled MASA MASID volunteers.

“Organizing MASA MASID is in line with the priorities of the current administration to rid the country of illegal drugs, criminality and corruption by encouraging the involvement of the community through a multisectoral and massbased approach to ensure effective and efficient implementation,” Lacuesta explained.

Masa Masid, according to Lacuesta is geared towards achieving improved governance starting at the local level and decreasing crime activities.

Activities to be undertaken after social facilitators are ori

ented and volunteers enrolled include advocacy to heighten the level of awareness on the country’s problems; encouraging community participation and partnership building; capacity development for MM groups, and reporting system in place.

Lacuesta said they will monitor compliance of LGUs on this project based on Memorandum Circular No. 2017-112 or the revised guidelines on the implementation of MASA MASID.

It can be recalled that Kalinga was declared drug-cleared province on February this year but was reverted to its old status as drug affected province after the arrest of alleged pushers and users and confiscation of prohibited drugs and drug paraphernalia. PIA - CAR