By Ellalyn De Vera-Ruiz To fully combat the proliferation of illegal drugs, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has strengthened its collaboration with local government units (LGUs) to undertake reformative measures to transform and rebuild the lives of recovering drug dependents. Through the Yakap Bayan Framework of Intervention, DSWD weaves together all existing government programs, projects, resources, and activities in order to create a holistic and sustainable approach for the rehabilitation, aftercare, reintegration, and provision of support services for the drug dependents. It aims to transform them from liabilities into assets – from surrenderers into productive citizens and community leaders. The framework – which was established pursuant to the Republic Act (RA) 9165 (the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) and Executive Order No. 15 signed by President Duterte – mandates the creation of the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs and Anti-Illegal Drugs Task Force. One of the supportive partners of DSWD in the implementation of Yakap Bayan is Davao City, which utilized the framework as a benchmark for its Community-Based Rehabilitation and After Care Program (CBRAP). CBRAP is spearheaded by the City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (CADAC) which operates in 182 barangays in the city. “Our Community-Based Rehabilitation and Aftercare Program or CBRAP was inspired by the Yakap Bayan Framework. We teach our clients how to access the different programs and services of government institutions and even private organizations and we prod them to really go and get the resources they need,” Ronaldo Rivera, CADAC technical adviser for community-based organizations, said. He noted that in 2017, their Barangay Resiliency and Recovery Support Group initiative was complemented with the Yakap Bayan Framework, which was introduced by DSWD Assistant Secretary Jose Antonio Hernandez. “We prepare our clients for disaster responsiveness and mobilize them especially during disaster occurrences in their communities or in any crisis situation. They become disaster volunteers or responders. This undertaking is part of our treatment plan integrating the Yakap Bayan concept or what we call Motherland’s Embrace which stresses ’kalinga’ (care),” he added. Through the Yakap Bayan Framework, CADAC also pushed for the TARA NA or Tabangan Atong Reformists Aron Naay Asenso (Help Reformists Towards Progress). At present, 4,154 drug dependents are enrolled in TARA NA. “Through the urging of DSWD, we were able to mobilize the 5 percent barangay disaster fund in support to our clients who have been hired as disaster volunteers or responders in their barangays. Equipped with motorbikes, they assist in emergency situations like disasters or even escorting pregnant women to birthing facilities. When you change the worth of the person, he sees himself in a better perspective and he becomes a leader,” Rivera said. CADAC also works with the Department of Health (DOH) in providing the appropriate treatment for clients, depending on the severity of their cases. DOH handles mild cases, while the more severe ones are referred for residential care. CADAC, meanwhile, offers physiological, social, psychosocial as well as spiritual interventions. Other components of CADAC’s CBRAP are orientation, recovery checklist and treatment evaluation, weekly drug screening, early recovery skills, relapse prevention skills, information dissemination, therapeutic recreational activities, family education, client status review, and case transfer conference.