PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan — An estimated 103 reforming drug surrenderers (RDS) from four barangays in the town of El Nido in Palawan province will be completing their rehabilitation training and therapy under the Community Enhancement and Livelihood Program (CELP) on Wednesday.
Provincial Information Officer Gil Acosta Jr. said Tuesday the RDS, who were from Barangays Masagana, Corong-Corong, Buena Suerte, and Villa Libertad, had been undergoing CELP since August last year.
“The CELP was launched in El Nido on Aug. 7, and after 16 weeks of recovery activities, those who admitted they sold and used illegal drugs and surrendered to Oplan Tokhang, are now graduating. This is the first step towards turning their lives around away from drugs,” he said.
Palawan Governor Jose Alvarez was keen on helping those who surrendered following the implementation of President Rodrigo Duterte’s nationwide campaign against hard drugs – Oplan Tokhang and Double Barrel Reloaded, said Acosta.
“With support, the provincial government believes they (RDS) can be helped to return to (their) normal (lives), be with their families, and become part of their communities again,” he said.
The CELP is implementing “After Care” programs in the municipalities of San Vicente, Roxas, Brooke’s Point, and Araceli.
The program will also be implemented in other municipalities that have been recorded to have a number of drug surrenderers, he added. (PNA)
