Institutionalizing Barkada Kontra Droga Program

Legal basis under RA 9165

Republic Act No. 9165 is the legal basis for the DDB’s authority to institutionalize and guide dangerous-drug prevention programs.
Section 77, Article IX of RA 9165 vests powers in the Dangerous Drugs Board that support institutionalization of the BKD program.
The BKD program is designated as the flagship program of the DDB in the area of primary prevention of drug abuse.

Policy rationale and intended outcomes

The BKD program provides a preventive social response designed to counter the dangers and disastrous effects of drug abuse through education and information.
The BKD program is anchored on empowering individuals to be catalysts within peer groups to advocate a healthy, drug-free lifestyle through wholesome activities.
The BKD initiative is built on a social marketing approach developed for response to amphetamine-type stimulants (ATS) abuse among youth.
The BKD concept is intended to evolve into a nationwide Barkadahan concept that strengthens camaraderie, collaboration, cooperation, solidarity, and linkages toward a drug-free lifestyle.
The regulation emphasizes sustaining BKD as a primary prevention program in schools, communities, homes, and workplaces.

Program scope and BKD membership

The BKD program enjoins all sectors of society to participate through special groups known as “barkadas.”
BKD targets participation from the youth and student, families, workforces, professional and labor groups, service provider groups, government agencies and offices (GO and LGU), non-government agencies/organizations, civic and religious sectors, and the entire community.
BKD membership is open to drug-free individuals in the country who advocate a healthy lifestyle through positive and wholesome activities.
BKD operates as a preventive education and information program to counter drug-abuse harm and promote drug-free living.

Program design and components

The BKD program is structured as a preventive education and information initiative to achieve a healthy, drug-free, productive lifestyle.
The BKD is intended to develop a collective action among students, youth, and community members to achieve a shared commitment to drug-free living.
BKD implementation follows four phases:

Phase I – Launching Seminar of the BKD (nationwide)

BKD concept presentation.
Media advocacy, including posters, jingles, and videos.
Issuance of BKD ID cards.
Guided educational tours to various offices and rehabilitation centers.
Organization of BKD core groups.

Phase II – Capability Building

Training of Trainors on Drug Abuse Prevention Education, covering: RA 9165, medical aspects, preventive aspects, roles of BKD members, and formulation of action plans.
Training on enhancement of life skills.
Training on development of IEC materials.
Skills training on livelihood.

Phase III – Implementation of Formulated Action Plans

Implementation of action plans, including:
- Provision of positive alternative activities, including sports and other wholesome activities and contests.
- Provision of livelihood projects, including small scale industries and other related projects.
- Youth-to-youth visits.
Production/distribution of IEC materials, including posters, videos, and jingles, and billboards.
Posting of billboards and posters in strategic places.
Airing of jingles and videos during BKD activities.
Establishment of BKD Centers.

Phase IV – Monitoring and Evaluation

Reporting of activities to the National Secretariat.
National search for outstanding BKD Centers/Chapters.

Objectives and program policies

The BKD program has a general objective to promote people empowerment leading to a healthy lifestyle that is drug-free and productive.
The BKD program’s specific objectives require:
- Establishing a BKD movement.
- Training people in advocating a healthy and productive drug-free lifestyle.
- Creating fully drug-free environments in the home, school, workplace, and community.
- Encouraging productive use of time and alternative activities.
- Providing support services toward adopting the BKD concept among families, educators, professionals, workforces, peer groups, and other sectors.
BKD orientation-siminars are required to promote people empowerment, establish the “Barkada Kontra Droga” movement, and provide support services toward adoption of the barkada concept.

Implementation framework and responsible agencies

The Dangerous Drugs Board conducts the program in collaboration with the DepEd, CHED, DUG, NYC, and other concerned agencies, with participation of various sectors and the entire community.
The DepEd and CHED must issue corresponding memorandum circulars requiring establishment of BKD Centers in secondary and tertiary schools, respectively.
The DILG must issue its own memorandum circular enjoining Anti-Drug Abuse Councils to establish their own BKD Centers in their respective communities.
Other sectors of society must establish their own BKD Centers.

Where BKD Centers must be established

BKD Centers must be established in:
- All secondary and tertiary schools, where the center must be located within the Student Council’s office or in any available space suitable for the purpose.
- Communities, where the Provincial/City/Municipal/Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council must provide a suitable space.
In public schools:
- National Drug Education Program (NDEP) Coordinators serve as Head Coordinators.
- NDEP Coordinators assign trained BKD members to man the center.
In private schools:
- The Guidance Office serves as the lead department in program implementation.
In community settings:
- Anti-Drug Abuse Councils provide supplies, equipment, and other support services necessary to carry out BKD purposes.
BKD Centers are supported through:
- DDB training of core trainers for targeted schools/areas with full support of school officials, administrators, and ADAC officials.
- Mobilization of trained BKD members to train other target groups with full support of the concerned lead person/agency.

Training, IEC materials, and livelihood support

BKD capability-building activities must include capability building, leadership, life skills, and livelihood trainings.
Livelihood trainings must be coordinated with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and supported by the respective ADACs.
School and community assemblies must be conducted with BKD Center staff to determine BKD member numbers, needs, problems, and to generate data for plan formulation.
The DDB must provide BKD Centers with available IEC materials including posters, leaflets, booklets, and other audio-visual materials.
Mass production of BKD IDs must be the responsibility of the ADACs concerned.
Drug referral procedures must be accommodated in the Centers and must be coursed through:
- ADACs for community settings, and
- NDEP Coordinators for school settings.

Records, reporting, monitoring, and coordination

The DDB, through the BKD National Secretariat, must monitor the progress and development of every BKD Center or Chapter in collaboration with DepEd, CHED, DILG, and other agencies/offices concerned.
BKD chapters or centers must be able to contact directly the BKD National Secretariat at the DDB for BKD program matters.
Schools and ADACs through designated staff must maintain files/records of BKD members.
Schools and ADACs must submit BKD member records to the Dangerous Drugs Board (Attn: BKD National Secretariat) on a semi-annual basis.
Submitted reports must be integrated into the BKD database.

Roles and responsibilities of agencies

The DDB Secretariat (Office of Primary Responsibility) must:
- Provide technical support and make available IEC materials.
- Orchestrate, coordinate, and oversee program implementation.
The DILG must:
- Issue appropriate circulars for LGUs and ADACs to provide needed support for BKD-related activities in their jurisdictions.
- Strengthen the operation of PADACs, CADACs, MADACs, and BADACs in support of BKD.
- Encourage formation of BKD chapters/centers and provide financial as well as other forms of incentives to participating groups as appropriate.
The DSWD must:
- Provide technical and other forms of expertise for BKD in areas of responsibility.
- Provide training skills and access to existing programs to participating organizations relevant to their drug prevention programs.
- Integrate the BKD concept into the existing SDEC program.
The National Youth Commission (NYC) must:
- Encourage and provide leadership and other support to BKD.
- Provide/conduct training or seminars on prevention and control of dangerous drugs among the Sangguniang Kabataan.
- Provide training on life skills enhancement, livelihood, and alternative activities for out-of-school youth and street children.
- Provide internship programs as scholarship to deserving BKD members.
DepEd and CHED must:
- Integrate the BKD concept into NDEP activities and into CHED’s activities in their respective domains.
- Provide technical and other forms of expertise to BKD in their areas of responsibility.
- Provide training on life skills enhancement, livelihood, and alternative activities for student leaders.
- Provide/conduct training or seminars on prevention and control of dangerous drugs among student leaders.
- Provide scholarship program to deserving BKD members.
- Supervise student council activities in their respective areas of responsibility.
- Establish a BKD Center in every school.
Student Councils must:
- Encourage students to participate in BKD in their schools.
- Integrate BKD into existing student council programs/activities.
- Initiate BKD activities.
- Conduct echo-seminars or trainings on prevention and control of dangerous drugs among the student populace.
- Conduct trainings on life skills enhancement, livelihood, and alternative activities.
- Support establishment of the BKD Center.
TESDA must:
- Provide livelihood training to students and community leaders in collaboration with DepEd, CHED, DSWD, LGUs, and other concerned agencies.
- Provide other forms of support as appropriate.
Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) must:
- Provide technical and other forms of assistance to BKD activities.
- Organize their own BKD Center or Chapter or adopt the BKD concept as appropriate.