Over 800 drug surrenderers given recognition

CEBU, Philippines - Over 800 recovering drug users and pushers were recognized for participating in the three-month community based treatment (CBT) program, the first batch in the entire Central Visayas who have completed a rehab program sanctioned by Department of Health Region (DOH) -7.

This program is spearheaded by the local government of San Remegio town in collaboration with the police, barangays and non-government organizations, among other concerned agencies.

Bertel Noval Aballe of the Municipal Anti-Drug Abuse Council and CBT Consultant of San Remegio said at least 406 of the 821 enrollees finished the initial phase of a two-year recovery and reintegration program, though the rest were still recognized for their participation.

They were among the 1,441 drug users and pushers who earlier surrendered to authorities following the government's drug war launched last year.

The 406 completers were conferred with DOH-issued certificates allowing them to proceed to the next phase of skills development and livelihood program from allied-agencies such as the Department of Labor and Employment and the Commission on Higher Education, among others.

Aballe said the three-month treatment during the first phase will be followed with another nine months for the after-care program.

For the second phase, he said, there will be support groups that will monitor and guide the enrollees through the stages of coping by means of holistic intervention, including values formation.

He said they are also creating "winners" or coaches – former drug addicts who will now assist the enrollees in reforming their lives.

Following the nine-month after-care program, there will be another 12 months for reintegration, during which enrollees will be transformed into productive individuals in the society and will have to be monitored to check whether they have completely abstained from drug use. (FREEMAN)