Lapu-Lapu City gov’t helps drug surrenderers find alternative work

CEBU, Philippines - Drug users and pushers in Lapu-Lapu City who have surrendered to authorities get one more shot at life as Mayor Paz Radaza is committed to help them find alternative livelihood activities.

At least 57 of the 1,700 drug surrenderers have now been given work at City Hall, said Radaza.

She said the surrenderers were given P250 daily cash allowance for their work from Mondays to Fridays at the material recovery facility by building foot path, putting up hollow blocks and maintaining channelized pathway on a road.

"Weekly ang atong paghatag sa allowance nila, enough to sustain and a little something for their family," Radaza said, as the city government is still coming up with strategies to ensure that those who were involved in illegal activities will be able to live better.

The mayor, however, said that half of the workers at the MRF no longer came back for work.

"Ang uban serious and others are not kay wala na man mitungha pagbalik. Gikan sa 55, 27 na man lang pud ang mitunga sa trabaho. We are not totally expecting total change pero at least atong gihatagan og alternatives sila," she said.

It was the City Department of Social Welfare and Services which conducted profiling of these individuals in coordination with the city police.

The surrenderers, who have showed their sincerity to follow a new way of life and no longer engage in illegal drug activities, will hopefully be given a better livelihood support by the government by endorsing them to work at business establishments, Radaza said.

Senior Supt. Rommel Cabagnot, acting director of Lapu-Lapu City Police Office, said the program of the city government is already good enough for the surrenderers to start a new life.

According to Cabagnot, the mayor said the program will run for two to three months. —/NSA (FREEMAN)