Gov’t support felt in Tacloban drug rehab

TACLOBAN CITY, March 6  -- From knocking on doors under “Oplan Tokhang” up to the completion of their rehabilitation, the government is always there to assist hundreds of drug surrenderers, a village official here said Tuesday.

Editha Monredondo, chief of the city’s Barangay 56-a, said it was only under the administration of President Rodrigo R. Duterte that the problem on dealing with drug personalities has been properly addressed.

The village is one of the highly populated coastal communities here.

“In the past, we thought that there were only four drug users, but we were surprised when 30 people surrendered to authorities from 2016 to early 2017 because they feel that the government is serious in helping them,” Monredondo told the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

Of the 30 drug surrenderers, one was referred to the Department of Health Treatment and Rehabilitation Center, being a high-risk drug dependent. Eight, classified as moderate risk, joined the “New Beginning” program of the city government.

“I was impressed that the one categorized as high-risk got all the assistance he needed – monthly financial support, weekly rice and grocery supplies, and livelihood support. While those who were moderate risk participated in a rehabilitation program where they learned different skills,” Monredondo said.

The village chief is just one of the hundreds of local officials who have testified how effective the drug rehabilitation program is during the “Rehabinasyon” public forum held at Patio Victoria Resort here Tuesday.

The campaign’s name, a portmanteau of rehabilitation and nation, aims to take a holistic approach in eliminating the country’s drug problem by putting a premium on the rehabilitation of drug surrenderers.

The forum’s discussion centered on how the city government and national government agencies have been working together to aid drug personalities through a community-based approach.

The city government-led “New Beginning” program aims to enhance protective factors and reduce risk for surrenderers through risk assessment, restoration, growth and development, and reintegration.

A surrenderer undergoes the 12 steps contained in the recovery modules, which comprise eight to 12 weeks of coaching and therapeutic sessions depending on his or her condition. Each of them receives food subsidy and fare allowance.

Mark Ramos, one of the program’s nurses, said at least 86 of the 600 enrolled drug personalities in the city have completed the rehabilitation initiative.

The remaining 514 will graduate from the program in June. Completers are expected to be an advocate of rehabilitation.

“The rehabilitation process is linked to existing programs of the national government, such as skills training by TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority), provision of social services by DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development), and livelihood assistance by DOLE (Department of Labor and Employment),” Ramos said.

Dangerous Drugs Board Chairman Catalino Cuy said the community-based rehabilitation program should be a priority of the local government since this is the most effective strategy to help drug dependents.

“The way we look at it, community-based is the best way to approach the problem. The surrenderer is immersed in the community and family members can help in the reintegration process,” said Cuy, former officer-in-charge of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

The Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD) organized the “Rehabinasyon” public forum earlier held in Iloilo City and Davao City. This month, ICAD will conduct town hall meetings in eight cities in Visayas and Mindanao.

The Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) has been tasked to package and market the campaign into a cohesive and streamlined advocacy.

“We will make sure that people will be informed and people will be open to understanding and become advocates of change,” said PCOO Assistant Secretary Ramon Cualoping III.

“Rehabinasyon” features three components: #RealNumbers, #RealSolutions, and #RealStories. Under these components, initiatives like information dissemination, treatment of drug dependents, livelihood programs, job security, and alternative modes of development are reintroduced and implemented across the country. (SQM/PNA)