DILG FORMING ANTI-DRUGS TASK FORCE

Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Alfredo
S. Lim is forming a 5,000man task force to combat what he called
''Manila's growing drug problem.''

The first batch of 3,000 drug fighters will be inducted into office
today when the former Manila mayor and his supporters launch in Tondo
the "Walk for Life," a comprehensive social and civic program for the
city's poor residents which includes free medical, dental, food, and
livelihood services.

Lim said members of the task force will come from the city's six
districts, stressing that all well-meaning citizens are welcome to
join the crusade.

"Labanan ang Droga, Ituro ang Pushers para sa Magandang Kinabukasan"
will be the theme of the new anti-drug campaign.

Lim gained national and worldwide attention when he initiated the
innovated and controversial spray-painting of the houses of known
drug pushers when he was mayor of Manila.

Lim said the drug problem has since worsened with drug addicts
involved in serious crimes such as rape, murder, and robbery.

"The battle cry of City Hall now should not be "Buhayin and Maynila,"
but "Sagipin ang Maynila" from the clutches of drug pushers and
dealers," Lim declared.

Finalists

Pursuant to a comprehensive drive ordered by President Estrada
against illegal drugs, Department of Interior and Local Government
(DILG) Secretary Alfredo S. Lim and DILG Undersecretary Narciso Y.
Santiago Jr. announced that 43 provinces, cities, municipalities, and
barangays throughout the country have been chosen as national
finalists for the first Presidential Awards for Best Perfomer Local
Government Units Against Illegal Drugs.

Defense Secretary Orlando Mercado and DILG Undersecretary Santiago
Jr. met last Thursday the National Awards Committee in a meeting at
the DILG central office in Quezon city to discuss the selection of
the national winners and details of the awards ceremony.

Mercado is vice chairman of the national awards committee with Lim as
chairman and heads of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP),
Philippine National Police (PNP), National Drug Law Enforcement and
Prevention Coordinating Center, and the presidents of the Philippine
Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Rotary International, and the
Crusade against Violence.

Undersecretary Santiago said the committee plans to hold the awarding
ceremony for the first national winners of the Presidential Awards on
Jan. 16, Tuesday, at the Malacanang Heroes Hall, with President
Estrada leading the rites to give the awards to the national winners.

Santiago said that from the 43 national finalists will be chosen the
national winners for the province category, city, municipality, and
barangay categories and the first and second runners-up.

He said that of the total 43 national finalists, four provinces will
compete in the province category, 14 cities in the city category, 12
towns in the municipal category, and 13 barangays in the barangay
category.

The four provincial nominees are Rizal, Oriental Mindoro, Bohol, and
Misamis Oriental, while the 14 city nominees are Laoag, Santiago, San
Jose, Lucena, Legazpi, Iloilo, Tagbilaran, Pagadian, Cagayan de Oro,
Davao, Iligan, Surigao, Baguio, and Las Pinas.

The 12 municipal nominees are the towns of Pinili, Ilocos Norte;
Diffun, Quirino, San Isidro, all in Nueva Ecija; Cainta, Rizal; Tiwi,
Albay; Murcia, Negros Occidental; Talisay, Cebu; Malitbog, Southern
Leyte; Liloy, Zamboanga del Norte; Valencia, Bukidnon; Cabadbaran,
Agusan del Norte; and San Juan, Metro Manila.

Santiago said the search for the "Best Peformer Local Government
Units Against Illegal Drugs" is covered by Executive Order 249, as
part of President Estrada's anti-drug abuse program.

"The award is a gift of President Estrada to our people, especially
the youths to keep them away from the menace of illegal drugs and
drug abuse," Santiago said.

The DILG undersecretary said the national finalists were selected
based on the following criteria: organization and strengthening of
the barangay anti-drug abuse council, formulation and implementation
of advocacy and information campaign, apprehension, investigation,
prosecution, conviction, and rehabilitation of illegal drug pushers
and users, monitoring and reporting, and special project to reduce
supply and demand.

The Bureau of Local Government Supervision (BLGS) of the DILG and the
Drug Enforcement Prevention Center serve as secretariat of the
program.