Baybay City Mayor Carmen Cari said their Daytime Therapeutic Center, which has trained three batches as of March, has so far been effective in helping former drug users return to their normal lives.
The lady mayor said physical changes are already visible among the
former drug users, who have shown enthusiasm in renewing their lives and coming
off clean from drug abuse.
“We have gathered them in many activities together with their
families, and we saw for ourselves the positive change they have made to
themselves in so short a time,” Cari said in an interview on Thursday.
Under the program, the patients underwent counseling and technical
training on welding and small engine repair. This is to provide them skills for
small livelihood once they go back to mainstream society.
They likewise prepared their own food, cleaned the center, and
even grew a garden. They were transported daily by the city police from their
villages to the center while some were provided with their own fare.
Some 10 kilograms of rice per week were also extended to their
families while they were at the center.
Cari said the city government provided them with financial
assistance to start a small business for themselves and their families.
The center is currently taking care of the fourth batch, which has
30 participants.
“This is our own way of helping the government in its campaign to
free our city from illegal drugs,” Cari said.
The therapeutic center is being assisted by the Department of
Health in Eastern Visayas through the Treatment and Rehabilitation Center in
Dulag, Leyte. It has nurses, counselors, trainors and a doctor.
The center started taking care of surrenderers last year but they
graduate based onheir progress.
Recently, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the
Philippine National Police jointly cleared this city’s 79 drug-affected
villages. (LAAA/PNA)
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