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Monday, August 1, 2016

Isabela anti-drug council drafts plan to help drug users, dependents

by Rene V. Carbayas

ISABELA CITY, Basilan – The overwhelming number of alleged drug personalities who turned themselves in to authorities has prompted the Isabela City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (CADAC) to draft plans to help them recover and become productive citizens of the country.

A technical working group (TWG) composed of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Isabela City Schools Division, City Social Welfare and Development, the City Health Office, the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), the Isabela City Police Office, and the Office of the City Mayor was created to draft the programs and activities aimed at providing support mechanisms for the “TokHang” Anti-Drug Abuse Campaign of the national government.

The Isabela city police reported that about 900 drug personalities have turned themselves in as of July 26.

Police Senior Inspector (PSI) Jerome Afuyog Jr, Isabela City Police Chief said that those who surrendered to the police were eventually released right after documentation procedures and signing of a concurrence of undertaking and waiver since there were no facilities where to put them for rehabilitation.

The overwhelming outcome of the campaign created the need for the local police to seek for assistance from the local government unit to deal with those who surrendered since no rehabilitation centers exist in the locality. 

With this dilemma, the TWG drafted alternative programs and plans for the LGU to consider implementation.

The TWG laid out some plans for Mayor Al-Qaid Akbar’s approval. They include immediate medical assistance for alleged drug users and dependents to determine their mental and physical health, an awareness session on the ill-effects of substance abuse on persons and communities, life skills and livelihood training, and physical fitness programs, among others.

With the demand for resources, the TWG and the CADAC have resolved to seek the help of various institutions and groups to establish convergence programs and activities.

In a series of meetings, CADAC hopes to finalize the plans and implement the programs by August this year.