CPADAO eyes partnership with frats

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Office (CPADAO) Chief Carmen Ivy Remedios Durano-Meca urged fraternity groups to partner with them in anti-drug initiatives through educating the youth.

“They can help us in the community kay sila may mas vulnerable and mas makita in the community,” she said when asked by The FREEMAN.

She announced that CPADAO is open to partnerships with fraternities or any groups that share the same advocacy of striving to have drug-cleared communities.

She said that she sees fraternities as potential partners to cascade information to the grassroots level.

“CPADAO really needs partners right now for education (as illegal drug) prevention. Mao man nay dako natong kulang sa CPADAO, ang partnership,” she said.

Meca explained that before their office can recognize a group as a partner, the organization will first have to undergo a series of training and testing.

“Kinahanglan limpyo sad sila sa illegal drugs pud before we partner with them,” she emphasized.

No fraternity yet has sought to partner with CPADAO. At present, the youth group partners of the office are the Supreme Student Government (SSG) units and the Pag-Asa Youth Association of the Philippines (PYAP).

Meanwhile, the CPADAO also reported that 21 of the 38 local government units (LGUs) have undergone a training on the Matrix Intensive Outpatient Program (MIOP).

As of December 2017, there are 50,551 recorded drug surrenderers across the province.

Of this number, 7,501 individuals “voluntarily” enrolled themselves in a Community-based Treatment Program (CBTP) and at least 3,635 have already graduated.

All of them have been issued a certification by the Department of Health (DOH) that they are fit to work or are undergoing training by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) to ensure that they are able to reintegrate back to the community.

Meca emphasized that their office is focusing more on sustaining the status of drug-cleared communities and ensuring that those who have finished the CBTP can integrate back into the community. —/MBG (FREEMAN)