The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and 131 local government units (LGUs) nationwide have agreed to implement the Yakap Bayan Program—a reintegration intervention strategy for the rehabilitated recovering persons who used drugs (RPWUDs).
YBP is a holistic intervention to assist RPWUDS in their recovery journey and to facilitate their reintegration into their families and their respective communities.
The program is the core contribution of the DSWD to the government’s fight against illegal drugs.
As of March 31, 131 LGUs nationwide have entered a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the DSWD committing to implement the YBP in their respective jurisdiction.
The YBP implementation entails the provision of aftercare services, such as relapse prevention sessions, counselling sessions, health and fitness therapy, spiritual interventions, and skills training to improve the well-being and social functioning of RPWUDs.
Under the MOA, the LGUs are expected to issue a local policy aimed at institutionalizing the program implementation and the allocation of funds.
With the program implementation, the rehabilitated RPWUDs can look forward to being assisted by the government on their journey back to their families and communities.
The DSWD continues to advocate for the institutionalization of YBP in all localities, and has identified three model or pilot areas wherein implementation is closely monitored, and breakthroughs are documented for replication.
These are in Tuy, Batangas; Barbaza, Antique; and Glan, Sarangani.
As of March, the LGUs with existing MOA with the DSWD are composed of three provincial LGUs; 17 city LGUs; and 111 municipal LGUs.
Of the total LGUs, 34 are from Central Visayas, with the rest distributed in all regions nationwide as shown by the signed and duly notarized MOAs.