12 Sep Barangay-based Rehabilitation Program for Drug Dependents in Barangay 25 and 26 in CDO
Barangays 25 and 26 in Cagayan de Oro has organized a barangay-based recovery and reintegration program for the residents who are involved with illegal drugs.
On September 6, Tuesday, the community-based rehabilitation program was launched where there are only 37 classified drug users who participated the session, Barangay 26 chairman Alexander Dela Cerna said.
But there were 42 other drug dependents who were encouraged to attend the session last September 9, Friday. The barangay chairman is still anticipating more individuals who would attend the program in the coming days as it invites the family and relatives of drug users to participate.
The youngest participant was a boy aged 15 years old, Dela Cerna said.
The chairman stated, “Naay pagabuhaton nga lecture the whole day from Monday to Friday unya naa dayon pagahimuon nga sports activities.”
Volunteers from the non-government organizations (NGOs) who promotes President Duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs were the lecturers for this program, Dela Cerna said.
Business establishments were solicited for the financial support and the police were requested for surveillance.
Dela Cerna stated, “Sa police, nagpasalamat mi labina kang Chief Inspector Ariel Phillip Pontillas kay grabe iyang suporta. He monitors the attendance of the drug users, kung tan-aw niya nga wala na diha nitunga ang isa ka user, for example, iyang adtuon ug tuktukon pagbalik ug ifollow-up sa balay kung unsay rason nganu dili na gatunga.”
Dela Cerna also organized an operation similar to Tokhang (Toktok-hangyo) but not to drug personalities but to business owners for financial assistance.
Dela Cerna said, “Gasaka man gud ang gaapil, this is a good sign however, the barangay funds cannot sustain the needs. Ang amo lang na unta ma push through ang pag-rehab kay kung dili, ang tendency sige lang ta ug balik ug Tokhang ug masayang lang ang effort sa kapulisan.”
He added, “Mag-toktok pud mi sa mga generous owners of business establishments to help us sustain this project, pero willingness ang tabang dapat, dili sad mi mamugos.”
The barangay of Dela Cerna urged to ask financial aid from business establishments since they give a kilo of rice to drug dependents who attended the session, a way to encourage them to participate again in the next session.
The Barangay Council proposed to submit a resolution and forward it to the City Council to request for livelihood programs when the drug dependents completed the one-month barangay-based rehabilitation program.
Dela Cerna said, “Seryoso baya pud ang mga drug users, magdala gyud sila ug papel ug ballpen while ga-lecture. Mao man ni ang advantage nga sa barangay lang ang rehab kay mamonitor namo sila firsthand. Unta pud ang City Government will provide them livelihood or scholarship programs para tabang sa ila ug dili na gayud makabalik sa bawal na droga.”
City Social Welfare and Development Office head Teddy Sabuga-a stated that the City Government was also planning for a barangay-based rehabilitation program “to address the congestion of the lone government-owned rehab facility in the city located in Upper Puerto.”
Medical professionals such as social workers and psychologists will facilitate the community rehabilitation, Sabuga-a added.
News Source: SunStar
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