PB cancels trip to US

CEBU, Philippines - The Provincial Board has cancelled the trip of some of its members to New York, USA, following criticisms hurled by the media and the public against them.

But PB Member Arleigh Jay Sitoy said he will pursue the trip on his personal expense, not to attend the training, but to find out how Daytop Village Foundation treats and rehabilitates substance abusers in New York works.

During its caucus yesterday, the PB invited Governor Hilario Davide III and informed him that they are short in number as a group to attend the training.

Daytop International, Inc. earlier invited 10 PB members to attend the week-long study program on drug rehabilitation from Nov. 10 to 16, 2013.

Board Member Grecilda Sanchez, who encouraged her colleagues to attend the training, delivered a privilege speech in yesterday’s session to clarify the issue.

As there is only one government-owned drug treatment and rehabilitation facility in the province, Sanchez stressed the need for them as local legislators and executives to have a wider understanding of the problem.

“I am afraid that if we do not seek to have more information on the possible treatment, we may end up losing a lot of lives who are victims of drug abuse-related crime,” Sanchez said.

Sanchez explained that to observe the community-based treatment given to patients is of primary importance to complete the study.

Sanchez believes that the existing local treatment, where patients are locked in a room, doesn’t work.

She said the seminar will show a community-based system where parents and the community as well are advised to participate, adding that local legislative measures are necessary to the implementation of the system.

“The cancellation of the trip may be considered a temporary setback as this does not mean that the PB will stop looking for means to pursue this endeavor,” Sanchez added.

Sanchez ended her privilege speech with a video presentation of the story of an 18-year-old girl now confined at the Hope Rehabilitation Center in Lapu-Lapu City.

After hearing the speech of Sanchez and watching the video presentation, Sitoy said that he is more than convinced to visit the rehabilitation center in New York at his own expense. Sitoy said that when he comes back, he will put a rehabilitation center in Hilotongan Island in Cordova town for the sixth district. He also assured to share with his colleagues ideas he learned from the visit.

PB Member Raul Alcoseba also reported that he has already paid the registration fee of $1,500 using his personal money but will no longer ask for a refund after he decided not to go.

Board Member Carmen Remedios Meca, chairwoman of the PB committee on anti-drug abuse, said that even if they cannot attend the training, the Cebu Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Commission, of which she is the vice-chairwoman, will not stop its advocacy and to further study the setting up of a rehabilitation center.

Davide, who is chairman of the CPADAC, earlier granted the travel authority of PB Members Peter John Calderon, Jude Thaddeus Sybico, Julian Daan, Alcoseba, Sanchez, Joven Mondigo Jr., Sun Shimura, Miguel Antonio Magpale, Sitoy and Aladin Wilyamie Caminero subject for the approval of the Department of Interior and Local Government. — /BRP (FREEMAN)