PNP Region 8 to raise funds for training of 200 drug surrenderers

PALO, Leyte, Feb. 22 -- The Philippine National Police (PNP) regional office here will hold a fun run on February 25 dubbed as “Takbo para sa Pagbabago” (Run for Change) to raise funds for the training of drug surrenderers.

The fun run is divided into three categories, the individual run where runners may chose if they will participate in the three-kilometers, five-kilometers, 10-kilometers or 25-kilometers run; the three-kilometer buddy run for those who want to participate along with their friends or relative; and the five-kilometer run for couples.

Registration fee ranges from PHP350 to PHP950 depending on the category. This is part of the program Tokhang 200: “Oplan Pagbabago” skills and livelihood training of the police regional office here.

“Proceeds of the activity will finance the training of 200 surrenderers who are undergoing skills training. This will serve as their start-up,” said PNP Eastern Visayas spokesperson Chief Insp. Ma Bella Rentuaya on Thursday.

Tokhang 200: “Oplan Pagbabago” is a skills development program for 200 drug surrenderers in Eastern Visayas aimed at providing reformation and diversification program in line with the objective of the national government to transform and prepare them to the reintegration to the community as a productive individual.

The project also aims to generate community partnership to forge a united front for the promotion of peace and order by developing the surrenderers into productive community members and inculcate greater social responsibility.

The beneficiaries are expected to become trainers in their respective community after their learning.

Partners of the PNP in this program are the Technical Skills Development Authority, Department of Health, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Tacloban Rescue Unit, Bureau of Fire Protection, the Leyte provincial government, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and private institutions.

Courses offered to the surrenderers are motorcycle servicing, service consumer electronic products and systems, food processing, organic vegetables cultivation, organic chicken raising, massage, emergency search and rescue, stress management, traffic management, village peacekeeping operations, self-defense techniques, environmental protection, conflict management, internal security operations, community integration, counseling, and healing. (RTA/PNA)