BAYBAY CITY, Leyte — At least 100 drug surrenderers have completed the six-month rehabilitation program conducted by the city government in response to the national government’s anti-illegal drug campaign.
Baybay City Mayor Carmen Cari said their Daytime Therapeutic Center, which has trained three batches as of March, has so far been effective in helping former drug users return to their normal lives.
The lady mayor said physical changes are already visible among the former drug users, who have shown enthusiasm in renewing their lives and coming off clean from drug abuse.
“We have gathered them in many activities together with their families, and we saw for ourselves the positive change they have made to themselves in so short a time,” Cari said in an interview on Thursday.
Under the program, the patients underwent counseling and technical training on welding and small engine repair. This is to provide them skills for small livelihood once they go back to mainstream society.
They likewise prepared their own food, cleaned the center, and even grew a garden. They were transported daily by the city police from their villages to the center while some were provided with their own fare.
Some 10 kilograms of rice per week were also extended to their families while they were at the center.
Cari said the city government provided them with financial assistance to start a small business for themselves and their families.
The center is currently taking care of the fourth batch, which has 30 participants.
“This is our own way of helping the government in its campaign to free our city from illegal drugs,” Cari said.
The therapeutic center is being assisted by the Department of Health in Eastern Visayas through the Treatment and Rehabilitation Center in Dulag, Leyte. It has nurses, counselors, trainors and a doctor.
The center started taking care of surrenderers last year but they graduate based onheir progress.
Recently, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and the Philippine National Police jointly cleared this city’s 79 drug-affected villages. (Lizbeth Ann Abella/PNA)
