A total of 151 local government units have rallied behind the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) social reintegration program for recovering persons who use drugs (RPWUDs).
DSWD Secretary Rolando Joselito D. Bautista cited the LGUs’ support to the Yakap Bayan Program (YBP) which is a holistic intervention to assist RPWUDs in their recovery journey from surrendering, to treatment or rehabilitation, to aftercare, and to social reintegration to their families and communities.
“Ang Yakap Bayan Program na tinututukan ang rehabilitasyon at reintagrasyon ng mga persons who use drugs ay umabot na sa 151 lokal na pamahalaan ang nakikiisa at sumusuporta sa layuning tulungang makapagbagong buhay at makabangon muli ang mga naging biktima ng droga upang sila ay maging katuwang at kaagapay ng bayan sa pagpapabuti ng ating pamayanan (The Yakap Bayan Program, which focuses on the rehabilitation and reintegration of persons who use drugs, has gained the support of 151 local governments who are one with us in our quest to help rehabilitate drug victims and help them recover and make them our national partners in improving our communities),” he said during the pre-State of the Nation (SONA) forum themed “Pamana ng Pagbabago 2021” on Wednesday, July 14.
The DSWD chief has expressed hope that more LGUs will institutionalize the implementation of YBP.
The YBP entails the provision of aftercare services, such as relapse prevention sessions, counselling sessions, health and fitness therapy, spiritual interventions, and skills training, among others, to improve the well-being and social functioning of RPWUDs
The DSWD said YBP is anchored on the Duterte government’s Philippine Anti-Illegal Drug Strategy (PADS) campaign in which government agencies work together with the goal of achieving a drug-free Philippines.
“With the Yakap Bayan program, DSWD contributes to the overall anti-drug campaign of the Government, focusing on helping those who formerly used drugs to become productive citizens of the country, and in establishing measures to advocate for the prevention of substance abuse in a community.”
The DSWD announced late April that the implementation of the YBP has been institutionalized in 38 areas in the country.
Related story: https://mb.com.ph/2021/04/30/dswd-inks-pact-with-38-lgus-for-yakap-bayan-program/
It noted that the comprehensive programs of various government agencies against drug abuse are geared towards freeing the country from the disastrous effects of illegal drugs within the family, within the community and within the nation.
“Now is the time to take the communities away from the influence of drugs, and create a drug-free nation for the future generation.”