Baybay City opens rehab center for city’s drug users

BAYBAY CITY, Philippines — The Baybay City government the other day formally opened its Baybay City Daytime Therapeutic Center—at the newly completed New City Library building in Barangay Gaas—which is now serving as a rehabilitation center for drug users who surrendered to city authorities.

Mayor Carmen Cari said the opening of the center is the city government’s support to the intensified anti-illegal drugs campaign of President Rodrigo Duterte, involving the rehabilitation of drug users.

Mayor Cari believes that drug users have still the chance to reform their lives, through the center, and can be better citizens after their six-month rehabilitation.

The Baybay City Daytime Therapeutic Center, constructed under the aegis of Representative Jose Carlos Cari (5th district, Leyte), was opened in inauguration ceremonies on Thursday.

Mayor Cari said she asked her son-congressman for the temporary use of the new library building as a rehabilitation center for six months, as an urgent measure at this time, considering that the library still has no books yet.

The mayor said the 96 drug users who will undergo rehabilitation will be transported daily by the Baybay City Police from their respective barangays to the center and back after their daily rehab sessions.

She said the city government will be providing their needs while in the center, and train them to engage in livelihood programs later once they completed their phases of rehabilitation.

The city government will provide them livelihood or employment as construction workers later once they can complete with the program, she said.

The center is being assisted by the Department of Health-Region 8, through Dr. Teresita Cajano of SALAG Rehabilitation Center in Dulag, Leyte.

Cajano said the center is the first of its kind in the country and she lauded the Baybay City government for carrying out the program.

She then calls on the for perseverance of the drug users to complete the six-month rehabilitation for their own good. She is hoping that they will overcome their present status and become good members of their community.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency-8 Regional Director Alberto Jubay, for his part, asked the center beneficiaries to comprehend properly their activities and use their hearts to aim for the better.

Meanwhile, Vice Mayor Michael Cari, who was earlier reported to be linked to the Espinosa drug trade, vehemently belied accusations that he described as politically motivated.

He said his leadership in the City Council and the councilors themselves are fully supporting to the rehabilitation program for the benefit of their constituents, and Duterte’s anti-illegal drug crackdown. (FREEMAN)