PASIG CITY, Nov. 25 (PIA) – The Pasig City Government has been recognized as one of the local government units (LGUs) having best practices under the Community-Based Drug Rehabilitation and Reintegration Program (CBDRP).
Joing Pasig City in the recognition by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) are eight other LGUs that provide the best grassroots recovery program for illegal drugs victims.
DILG Secretary Eduardo M. Año said despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the national government is committed to the rehabilitation of drug users in the community level as part of its anti-illegal drugs program.
Pasig City’s SAGIP or Sumuko Ako sa Gabay ng Iwas Droga Program Community-Based Drug Rehabilitation has produced LGU employees who were former illegal drug users and persons deprived of liberty through moral, personal, and spiritual development even amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The DILG chief said that the nine best CBDRP practices were evidences that community level rehabilitation works as it gives drug users a chance to change for the better.
“Our push in the grassroots level to rehabilitate and eventually reintegrate drug users continues and these nine (9) best CBDRP practices of LGUs are proof of the government’s commitment towards this policy. Ito po ay tagumpay ng ating bayan laban sa iligal na droga,” he said.
Año said that the nine LGUs with best CBDRP practices are: Municipality of Magallanes, Cavite; Municipality of Bacnotan, La Union; City of Lucena, Quezon; Municipality of Kalibo, Aklan; City of Ormoc, Leyte; Pasig City; Davao Oriental; Municipality of Claver, Surigao Del Norte; and Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.
He said that among the 36 entries from various LGUs nationwide, the DILG, through the Philippine Anti-Illegal Drugs Strategy Project Management Office, chose nine best practices “that demonstrate ideal CBDRP implementation”. Entries of LGUs were screened on the existence of a CBDRP; at least 80% of those enrolled graduate from the program; and if the LGU introduced “safe interventions” during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Ang tagumpay ng programang ito ay tagumpay din ng mga pamilyang Pilipino na nagiging biktima ng iligal na droga,” he shared.
The DILG Chief also mentioned that the said CBDRP best practices are solid testaments that the government is serious in the rehabilitation aspect.
“Tuloy-tuloy ang pagtatrabaho natin sa baba (community level) para i-rehabilitate ang mga kababayan nating naging biktima ng droga para eventually ay makapagbagong-buhay sila at maging produktibong kasapi ng lipunan,” he explained.
Stories of Change through CBDRP
According to Año, the victory of these community rehab facilities can encourage not just other LGUs to follow suit but illegal drugs victims as well to commit in rehabilitation and reintegration as major steps in getting their lives back.
He said that the recognized CBDRP entries have been instrumental in changing people’s lives. SIPAG or Simula ng Pagbabago Program of Magallanes, Cavite has been conducting 12-week programs addressing the physiological, relational, spiritual and emotional issues of drug dependents.
“Awa ng Diyos, binigyan ng pagkakataong magbago. Sinabi ko din kay Kapitan na gusto kong maglingkod sa bayan dahil gusto kong maiba ang tingin sa akin ng tao,” said SIPAG graduate Florante Flores, 43, of Magallenes, Cavite.
The CBDRP of Malaybalay, Bukidnon has eight treatment stages which include three-week confinement rehabilitation and psychoanalysis; moral recovery; community involvement; and skills training for possible job opportunities.
CBDRP Symposium
Año said that the nine LGUs with remarkable CBDRP practices were recognized in a symposium on CBDRP best practices titled “Talakayang Rehab: Community-Based Drug Rehabilitation and Reintegration Best Practices.” “Napakahalaga na bigyan natin nang nararapat na pagkakataon ang pagkilala sa mga natatanging CBDRP practices na ito.”
The said symposium also served as the platform for sharing and capturing best CBDRP practices for possible replication and highlighting efforts of partner national government agencies in CBDRP reintegration.
It also featured the Alternative Learning System Program of the Department of Education; Barangay Drug Clearing Program of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency; and the Reintegration Program of the Department of Labor and Employment and the Philippine National Police.
Due to the impediments of the COVID-19 pandemic, the symposium was conducted via the Zoom platform and was viewed live on the DILG’s official social media page. (PIA NCR)
Source: Philippines Information Agency (pia.gov.ph)
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