Drug surrenderees turn to casket making

OLONGAPO CITY, Philippines – A casket making and training facility was opened here on Thursday to provide employment for drug surrenderees.

The facility, located in the compound of the city engineering office, is capable of making four caskets a day.

Former drug users will be trained by casket makers from the villages of San Matias and Santo Tomas in Pampanga and will be employed in the facility.

“The casket making livelihood program was conceptualized to help indigent residents of the city who fell victim to illegal drugs,” Mayor Rolen Paulino said.

“It is more costly for the city government to provide P5,000 in burial assistance to families of slain drug victims than donating caskets,” Paulino added.

He warned the drug surrenderees not to return to their vice, otherwise they could end up using the caskets for themselves.

Meanwhile, former drug user electrician Angelito Caparas, 44, said he is willing to undergo training in making caskets to become a responsible citizen.

Carpenter Gerardo Damaso, 56, is excited to join the training.

“I am happy that Mayor Paulino gave us a chance to reform and become productive citizens,” Damaso said.