The Pasig City local government, together with Psychology students from Rizal Technological University-Pasig (RTU-Pasig), and other officials from the City Anti Drug Abuse Council, met on Monday, Feb. 20, to discuss the programs and initiatives the city is doing to curb the proliferation of illegal drugs and rehabilitation of its persons who use drugs (PWUDS).
According to Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, part of the Psychology students' on the job training (OJT) is interviewing and screening the families of those arrested due to drug-related cases for the financial assistance and livelihood program of the Pasig City Anti-Drug Abuse Office (PCADAO).
"Iniiwisan natin ang madalas makita na paglala ng problema sa droga nang dahil sa kahirapan at problema sa pamilya (We are doing everything to prevent the aggravation of the problem on illegal drugs due to poverty and family issues)," Sotto said.
"Paalala nga ng mga Eksperto, magiging mas epektibo ang mga hakbang natin kontra droga kung inaalalayan din natin ang mga pamilya ng mga PWUDS (As the experts reminded, our moves against illegal drugs will be much more effective if we also give assistance to the families of PWUDS)," he added.
The mayor earlier explained that for this year, the city will focus on the rehabilitation of its drug dependents and promised the creation of more anti-drugs projects and recovery initiatives.
“Babalikan natin ang programa para sa “drug-free workplace.” Dadagdagan din natin ang suporta sa PNP para sa mga ops (We will go back to our program promoting a “drug-free workplace.” We will also increase our support to the Philippine National Police (PNP) in their anti-illegal drugs operations),” Sotto explained.
Last year, Pasig City’s Barangay Sagad was declared as “drug-cleared” after it passed the parameters set by the Regional Oversight Committee as part of the “Barangay Drug Clearing Program.” The distinction was conferred by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
Sotto clarified that barangays recognized as “drug-cleared” are not necessarily “drug-free.”
“Ibig sabihin po ng ‘drug-cleared’ ay na-comply na po ang mga requirements at criteria ng PDEA. Ang mga nasa ‘watch-list’ ay nahuli na po natin. Wala na po ‘yung dating mga nagtutulak sa ating barangay (‘Drug-cleared’ means the barangay has been able to comply with the requirements of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Pasig City Anti-Drug Abuse Office (PCADAO). We have caught all those included in the illegal drugs watch-list in the barangay),” he said.
The mayor also urged the affiliated government bodies to maintain the efficiency of the anti-drug abuse program and continue to catch all individuals involved in the manufacturing, selling, and possession of illegal drugs.
The “Community-based Drug Rehabilitation (CBDR) Program” also remains at the forefront of drug abuse intervention, he said.
The Pasig City local government’s anti-drug abuse programs have previously been hailed for its efficiency. In 2019, Pasig was one of eight Metro Manila cities with exemplary performance in the 2019 and 2021 Anti-Drug Abuse Council Performance Audit by the DILG-National Capital Region (NCR).
The local government utilizes the CBDR approach in cooperation with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)’s “RenewHealth” program.
RenewHealth is a five-year program from May 2019 to May 2024 that aims to “help PWUDs, people in recovery, and their families obtain access to informal care, self-help or community-based rehabilitation and recovery support to reduce or prevent drug dependence.”
A part of the initiative is the General Intervention on Health and Wellness Awareness (GINHAWA) which focuses on preparing and screening people who use drugs (PWUDs).
USAID has also conducted intercity anti-drug abuse trainings in Pasig, attended by participants from Pasig, San Juan, Muntinlupa, and Mandaluyong.
Last October, Sotto and Vice Mayor Robert “Dodot” Jaworski Jr. met with United States Foreign Assistance Deputy Director Dr. Tracy Carson and USAID Deputy Mission Director Rebekah Eubanks as they inspected the CBDR programs in the city.
In January, the Mobile Drug Testing Clinic (MDTC) was launched as an accessible testing site for PWUDs by the Substance Abuse Office of Pasig (SATOP), the Anti-Drug Abuse Council of Pasig (ADCOP).
The city has also rewarded the efforts of police assets and informants who were able to aid in anti-illegal drugs operations, giving them cash incentives ranging from P30,000 to P8,000.
The local government has also held training sessions for local tricycle operators and drivers association (TODA) groups to help raise awareness on illegal drug use.