Balangay Seal of Excellence. The Municipality of Kauswagan receives the Balangay Seal of Excellence from the Regional Oversight Committee on Barangay Drug Clearing- 10 after all 13 barangays were declared drug-cleared. (Photo: ADD/PIA-10/Lanao del Norte)
TheMoniotorMindanaoToday.com | Kauswagan town first in Lanao Norte to receive Balangay Seal for anti-drug campaign
By: Lou Ellen L. Antonio and Rosemarie B. Paredes
ILIGAN CITY – Kauswagan became the first municipality in Lanao del Norte to receive the Balangay Seal of Excellence from the Regional Oversight Committee on Barangay Drug Clearing (ROCBDC)-10.
The award recognizes the town’s implementation of the Barangay Drug Clearing Program, with all 13 barangays officially declared drug-cleared. The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Health (DOH), and Philippine National Police (PNP) jointly conferred the recognition.
Mayor Rommel Arnado shared the municipality’s efforts, which began in 2010, when Kauswagan was still addressing conflict and a high incidence of drug use. The local government launched an Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) campaign as its initial step.
To support a more long-term approach, the Kauswagan local government established the Kauswagan Youth Reformatory Center, later renamed the Balay Silangan Reformation Center. The facility was designed to respond to the underlying causes of drug use, including lack of education, unemployment, and family issues. It served as a rehabilitation and reintegration center and was later upgraded to meet national operational standards. The initiative became a model for similar programs.
The center provides free rehabilitation services to local residents and promotes education for the youth. The local government coordinates with nearby municipalities, conducts regular monitoring through the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office, and performs follow-ups on program completers.
While the town is certified drug-cleared, Arnado stressed that maintaining this status requires consistent community work.
“We will continue the IEC campaign. Kailangan malaman nila what damage will happen to your body if you do drugs. Absolutely, don’t do drugs, that’s the key message. Kami naman dito, active ang participation ng mga sector, especially the youth sector. May regular program talaga kami diyan sa anti-drug campaign,” he said.
The mayor encouraged other local governments to adopt similar programs and to study Kauswagan’s approach.
He also noted the role of early intervention and youth engagement. The municipality includes health and wellness activities in its early education curriculum to instill preventive habits.
PDEA Regional Director Attorney Benjamin Gaspi, chair of ROCBDC-10, highlighted the meaning of the award.
“Ang impact nito sa community ay napakalaki. Ibig sabihin, nagtatrabaho ang gobyerno, ang munisipyo, ang mayor, at ang mga barangay officials; nagtatrabaho para maalis at mawala ang problema tungkol sa illegal na droga; na-reform at na-rehabilitate ang mga users at mga pushers,” he said.
(The impact of this on the community is significant. It means that the government, the municipality, the mayor, and the barangay officials are all working together to eliminate and address the problem of illegal drugs. The users and pushers have been reformed and rehabilitated.)
He advised youth to avoid illegal drugs due to their effects on health, family, and future.
He also emphasized that drug-cleared status must be upheld through constant monitoring, as any barangay can fall back if vigilance is lost.
Gaspi called on other municipalities to implement their own Balay Silangan programs and use Kauswagan as a reference for community-based drug rehabilitation and prevention efforts. (LELA&RBP/ PIA-10/ Lanao del Norte)
###
