Alcover wants surrenderers to do community service

CEBU, Philippines - The committee on laws of the City Council is studying a proposed ordinance that, if approved, will require drug surrenderers in Cebu City to render 40 hours of community service within six months.

"Studies shows that, on the part of the community, community service, within the context of restorative system of justice is important to 'maintaining peace within the relevant community by repairing the harm crime caused it'," reads the proposal of Councilor Pastor "Jun" Alcover Jr.

"On the part of the surrenderers, it provides an opportunity for them to see first-hand the direct or indirect damage they have caused to the community, in general," the proposal reads further.

The activities the surrenderers may have to do include cleanup drives, mangrove planting, planting of seeds at the City's Nursery or the Department of Agriculture, painting of public school buildings and being a volunteer fire fighter.

Alcover said the proposal is in line with the city's policy to provide effective mechanisms and sustainable programs of treatment.

Earlier, the City Office of Substance Abuse and Prevention (COSAP) said it will help surrenderers find jobs through the Department of Manpower Development and Placement and Technical Education, Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

They will be made to undergo trainings in industrial trade (automotive, defensive driving preventive maintenance, electronic application, TV servicing, basic electricity, refrigeration and air conditioning, plumbing, computer technician), vocational trade (cosmetology, computer literacy, computer programming, website publishing, ms-access, computer designing, computer aided design, desktop publishing, typing, stenography), and garment trade (dressmaking, draperies, tailoring, industrial sewing machines).

This also includes simple technologies and food trade or culinary arts like baking, cake decorating and hotel restaurant service.

Second chance

Community service is also what Liloan town requires of drug surrenderers there in exchange for livelihood skills training, health services, sports training clinics, counseling and employment opportunities.

The arrangement also offers community rehabilitation and rehab for minors by volunteer organizations.

Yesterday, Mayor Christina Frasco and Vice Mayor Vincent Franco "Duke" Frasco led the launch of the Liloan Operation Second Chance for the targeted 1,260 of drug surrenderers.

 To avail of the program, drug surrenderers are profiled and assessed at the barangay level under the supervision of the Liloan Police Station, Municipal Social Welfare Office, and Municipal Health Office.

 Those with pending cases and outstanding warrants of arrest are turned over to the police for custody.

 Those with no pending cases and warrants and who will qualify after profiling will be scheduled to tender community service such as community cleanup and tree planting before they can avail of the services offered by the LGU.

Frasco said she conceptualized Operation Second Chance on her first day in office after over 40 drug personalities surrendered to her and expressed their desire to change and cut ties with the illegal drug trade.

 "To my mind, while the LGU is not in the position to waive criminality or pass judgment on these drug surrenderers, the LGU can help them transition into becoming positive and productive members of society," Frasco said.

 "I've encountered hundreds of our drug surrenderers and I saw in them remorse and sincerity. Since they have admitted wrongdoing and expressed a desire to change, who am I to deny them the dignity of a chance at a better life?" she added.

 Also yesterday, municipal and barangay officials and drug surrenderees signed a Pledge of Commitment and Covenant to support Operation Second Chance and other programs of the town.

Church

After it pledged to support the government's efforts in rehabilitating drug dependents, the Archdiocese of Cebu has started reaching out to police officials for the list of drug dependents who may be catered to community-based drug treatment services from faith-based initiatives.

The local Catholic Church ministry has mobilized parish communities and charismatic organizations to assist the government and authorities in attending to the needs of drug dependents through intensive drug recovery programs that incorporates spiritual intervention.  (FREEMAN)