Koronadal City, South Cotabato – July 3, 2025 — In a continued effort to advance the government’s campaign against illegal drugs through advocacy and inter-agency collaboration, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region XII spearheaded the Regional Inter-Agency Committee Against Drugs (RICAD) - Advocacy Cluster in support of the Philippine Anti-Illegal Drugs Strategy (PADS).
Held at the Wagi Hall of the DILG XII Regional Office, the meeting brought together member-agencies to report on their accomplishments for the first half of 2025 and to reaffirm their commitment to a unified, whole-of-nation approach to drug prevention and control.
The activity highlighted the cluster’s role in intensifying advocacy-based initiatives aimed at reducing drug dependency and promoting a rehabilitative and community-based approach. Reports from participating agencies underscored a range of efforts including the expansion of community-based drug rehabilitation programs, implementation of drug-clearing operations at the barangay level, and the rollout of information, education, and communication (IEC) campaigns across schools, communities, and workplaces in Region XII.
“These accomplishments are testament to our shared commitment in advancing the advocacy components of PADS—particularly in the areas of demand and harm reduction,” said LGOO VII Ian Jon S. Clemente, Chief of the Local Government Monitoring and Evaluation Division (LGMED), representing DILG XII Regional Director Atty. Rochelle D. Mahinay-Sero, CESE.
“More than enforcement, our success lies in preventive education, rehabilitation, and reintegration,” he added.
Despite these gains, the meeting also served as a platform for addressing persisting challenges—particularly those affecting Recovering Persons Who Use Drugs (RPWUDs).
To address these gaps, the Committee agreed on several key action points, including strengthening partnerships with local government units (LGUs) to build sustainable support systems. Proposals were made to improve referral pathways and initiate community sensitization campaigns.
