Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año maintained Wednesday that the government remained relentless in its battle against illegal drugs and rehabilitation of drug users at the grassroots level.
“Our push in the grassroots level to rehabilitate and eventually reintegrate drug users continues,’’ Año said.
“Proving that grassroots recovery program for illegal drugs victims work, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) recognized nine best practices of local government units (LGUs) under the Community-Based Drug Rehabilitation and Reintegration Program (CBDRP),’’ added the DILG in a statement.
Año noted that the nine LGUs with best CBDRP practices are the 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 the nine best CBDRP practices were concrete pieces of evidence that community level rehabilitation works as it “gives drug users a chance to change for the better.’’
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 percent of those enrolled graduate from the program; and if the LGU introduced “safe interventions” during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The DILG Chief also stressed that the said CBDRP best practices are solid testaments that the government is serious in the rehabilitation aspect.
Stories of Change through CBDRP
Año said 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 disclosed 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,’’ the DILG noted.
“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 (Thank God I was given the chance for the better. I also told the captain (barangay captain) that I want to serve the country to make people aware that I am a changed man),” 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.
Also, 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 (PDL) through moral, personal and spiritual development even amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
CBDRP Symposium
Año explained 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.”
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.