EXPLORING COMMUNITY-BARANGAY COLLABORATION IN STRENGTHENING BARANGAY ANTI-DRUGS ABUSE COUNCIL PROGRAM IN PASONG TAMO QUEZON CITY

Abstract

Drug abuse remains a critical concern in the Philippines, leading to the establishment of the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BADAC) to implement grassroots-level drug prevention and intervention programs. The effectiveness of these initiatives, however, depends largely on the active collaboration between barangay officials and community members. This study explores the extent of community-barangay collaboration in strengthening BADAC initiatives in Barangay Pasong Tamo, Quezon City, emphasizing the importance of engagement, partnership-building, and effective monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. This research employs a quantitative design to assess the impact of collaboration on the effectiveness of BADAC programs. A total of 50 respondents: 30 barangay officials and 20 community residents, were selected using random sampling to ensure balanced representation. Data were gathered through a structured survey questionnaire, which covered aspects of community engagement, partnership efforts, and monitoring practices. The researchers administered and retrieved the instruments in person, following ethical procedures such as informed consent and secure data handling to maintain confidentiality. The study revealed strong community involvement in BADAC activities. The highest-rated indicator in the area of community engagement was the regular conduct of BADAC meetings (weighted mean = 3.64), indicating consistent discussions on anti-drug strategies. In terms of partnership-building, collaboration with non-government organizations (NGOs) ranked highest (weighted mean = 3.46), underscoring the value of external support. For monitoring and evaluation, the top-rated indicator was the use of standardized data collection tools (weighted mean = 3.33), highlighting efforts toward structured data management. The results underscore the vital role of community-barangay collaboration in enhancing BADAC program implementation. To further strengthen the initiative, the study recommends increasing outreach efforts, establishing robust feedback mechanisms, enhancing partnerships with private and civic organizations, and securing sustainable funding. These strategies aim to promote a more responsive, data-driven, and community-centered approach to anti-drug efforts at the barangay level.