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.