CPADAO launches new programs for surrenderers

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu Provincial Anti-Drugs Abuse Office (CPADAO) yesterday launched four anti-drug projects and programs to help surrenderers reintegrate into mainstream society.

CPADAO unveiled two new projects and two programs, such as Project IFAD or Integrated Forces Against Drugs; Project YMAD or Youth Making a Difference; Program SEEK or School-based Education Enhances Knowledge on Drug Abuse and Program LIFT or Linking Interest of Families and Teachers, which are all under Student Assistance Program (SAP).

The new projects and programs are part of the province's observance of the drug awareness and prevention week. These are designed for the minors, students and out-of-school youths.

Ivy-Durano Meca, chief of CPADAO, said the projects are meant to support drug surrenderers who wished to have a new life and be reintegrated into mainstream society.

"We want to focus our program in helping minors and other surrenderers reform their lives and not to be involved further in illegal drugs," she said. 

 The records of Cebu Provincial Police Office show that as of November17 there were already 34,255 surrenderers (31,939 users and 2,316 pushers). At least 1,412 of them were minors and 624 women.The youngest drug surrenderer in Cebu started using shabu at the age of eight.

CPADAO consultant Emmanuel Delos Santos said some of the 1,412 surrenderers in the province are out-of-school youth. He said the minor drug surrenderers will undergo skills training program at TESDA.

  "Orientation of TESDA must gear towards the youth," he said.

 He said the skills training is one of the aspects for the surrenderers to be integrated to the community anew.

 "The projects would raise awareness on avoidance of drug abuse to the youth in our community or in my circle of influence," he said.

He said CPADAO aims to have a holistic approach in helping the province's drug surrenderers with the new projects. CPADAO covers the four basic domains (Home, school, work, community) by using the four projects.

 Delos Santos elaborated the different functions and purposes of each project of CPADAO including the two programs under project SAP.

The project I.F.A.D. is basically the collaborative effort of the police, schools and colleges and other government agencies to reduce harm from drugs. It lays the ground for project 2, the Barangay Behavioral Health Unit (BBHU) that deals with the collaboration of the different Barangay health units.

Project 3, SAP (LIFT and SEEK) is when CPADAO would tap schools, especially Department of Education in implementing the basic drug abuse evasion of every student and teacher.

 CPADAO considered tapping teachers because of their influence over students.

 "Teachers are Parents. They must be a real parent to her students as well as a good influence," Delos Santo said.

 Project 4 would be the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) which is yet to be launched pending the issuance of a drug-free workplace policy. It would implement careful monitoring of employees.

The Project 5, YMAD, is comprised of out-of-school youth through the Pag-asa Youth Association of the Philippines.

Delos Santos said CPADAO needs the coordination of different government agencies in the implementation of the programs and the projects. He also called on the public to help by sharing the vision of CPADAO.

"We ask you (the public) to share the vision of CPADAO, we ask you to join hands with us," he said.

 Governor Hilario Davide III said the most effective strategy to fight illegal drugs is through "market denial" and strong cooperation among the citizens and government agencies. — (FREEMAN)