ANTI-DRUG AWARDS SET FOR TOP L.G.U.'s

Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Alfredo S. Lim
and Undersecretary Narciso Santiago Jr. announced yesterday that a search
has been launched for the country's best performing city, municipality, and
barangay in the campaign against illegal drugs.

Cities, municipalities, and barangays found to be drug-free will be given
special cash awards.

Lim said the award is a gift of President Estrada to local government
officials and an incentive for them to actively implement measures in the
fight against the menace of illegal drug abuse.

"Our local chief executives will play a key role in the successful
implementation of the program," Lim said.

He said the institutionalization of a system of providing incentives and
awards is designed to propel local officials and their constituents to
perform better and achieve a tradition of work excellence for a drugs-free
society.

The DILG secretary said the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has
allotted P10 million for the administrative and operational requirements of
the awards program upon the instruction of President Estrada.

Santiago said the presidential award is part of the government's
comprehensive guides to action against illegal drugs which were formulated
jointly by the DILG, the National Drug Law Enforcement and Prevention
Coordinating Center, the youth sector, and the various local government
units.

Santiago explained that the presidential awards shall be divided into three
categories: best performer city, best perfomer municipality, and best
perfomer barangay.

He said local government units will be provided with the guidelines on
other details of the awards program.