CORDILLERA local government units, government agencies and concerned groups are getting now involved in helping drug personalities who have surrendered to reform and become better citizens.
In Danglas, Abra , the local government put up outpatient rehabilitation program for surrenderees.
This involves lectures, spiritual nourishment, economic and livelihood seminars, sports, and a meet and greet with the local officials.
In Baguio, a community-based rehabilitation program under the Serenity In-the-Steps Rehabilitation Group was tapped to help dependents who were not referred to rehabilitation centers. It consists of 90 meetings with the following topics; psycho-education, feelings processing communication skills, skills training, and multi-family therapy and counseling.
In Ifugao, the provincial government and the Provincial Police Office initiated the creation of a reflection camp for surrenderees. The camp offers services like capability building, medical assistance including drug test, counseling/psychosocial intervention, referral, temporary confinement.
In Benguet province, a clean-up drive, repair and improvement, spiritual formations, tree planting and livelihood training given by Technical Education and Skills Development Authority such as welding are being done as part of the rehabilitation program.
Senior Supt. Angelito Casimiro, deputy regional director for operations reported a total of 9,289 drug personalities were accounted for from July 1 to Oct. 25.
The police visited 8,821 drug personalities regionwide in their “Oplan Tokhang” operations. -- Joseph B. Zambrano