Few opt for free city drug rehab

CEBU, Philippines - Of the almost 200 Cebu City barangay employees found positive of illegal drugs use, only 15 willingly underwent a drug rehabilitation  program provided at no cost to them by the Cebu City government.

Of the 15, just three persevered to finish the program.

Cebu City Office for Substance Abuse Prevention Chief Alice Utlang, though, said the city government cannot force those using are drugs to take advantage of the program.

“Dili man ta makapugos nila kay voluntary man ang magpa-rehabilitate (We cannot force them to; it is voluntary),” she said.

Section 54 of Republic Act 9165 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) states that “a drug dependent or any person may, by himself/herself or through his/her parent, spouse, guardian or relative within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity, apply… to the Board or its duly recognized representative, for treatment and rehabilitation of the drug dependency.”

“Upon such application, the (Dangerous Drugs) Board shall bring forth the matter to the court, which shall order that the applicant be examined for drug dependency,” it added.

Section 61, on the other hand, provides that “any person determined and found to be dependent on dangerous drugs shall, upon petition by the Board or any of its authorized representative, be confined for treatment and rehabilitation in any center duly designated or accredited for the purpose.”

A petition for confinement could be applied with the courts by a person authorized by the DDB on behalf of a drug dependent.

Utlang said around 40 signed up for drug rehabilitation, but only a few continued the process. And of the 15 barangay employees who did, only three finished the whole process of rehabilitation.

“Gi-encourage man namo, gi-encourage pud sa mga kapitan nga mopa-rehabilitate pero dili lang gyud sila mopadayon (We, the barangay captains encouraged them to complete their rehabilitation, but the simply would not,” she said.

“Mas maayo gyud nga sila ang moduol namo. Kay dili man gud ta kapugos sa tawo nga magbag-o (It is best if the drug dependents are the ones who would approach us). We are here to help them. Kay og sa private sila nga rehabilitation center very expensive kaayo. Atong purpose nga sa sayo pa mabag-o sila,” she added.

She said most barangay captains would let an employee who underwent drug rehabilitation return to work.

Utlang said the free rehabilitation program provided by City Hall is not just for government officials and employees but for all the residents of the city.

COSAP is conducting random drug testing to and has so far netted 179 out of 4,228 employees from 54 of the city’s 80 barangays. Of the 54, only Barangays San Jose, Kamagayan, Taptap, Pulangbato, Lusaran, Budlaan and Tabunan were deemed as drug-free.

Utlang congratulated Pulangbato employees and officials because it is the second time that the barangay has been declared as drug-free. COSAP conducts random drug tests in the barangays twice a year. 

Meanwhile, COSAP did a surprise screening to 10 Cebu City Traffic Operations Management employees yesterday but all tested negative of drugs use.  (FREEMAN)