Over 1 thousand drug dependents in Cebu City complete rehab program

CEBU, Philippines —  More than 1,000 drug surrenderers from different Cebu City barangays graduated from the Community-based Drug Rehabilitation Program conducted by City Office for Substance Abuse Prevention (COSAP).

 Jonah John Rodriguez, COSAP executive director, said the graduates have successfully completed all rehab sessions within the period of six months. Rodriguez said some 4,000 surrenderers are still undergoing some rehab sessions at present.

The purpose of the program is to give drug dependents the opportunity to reform and be better persons.

“Gihingosgan gyud nato og maayo ang atoang Community-based Drug Rehabilitation Program. Dili pa ulahi ang tanan, duna pa'y oras nga mag-usab paingon sa saktong dalan," Rodriguez said.

 Aside from rehabilitation sessions, COSAP also offers livelihood programs and skills training for surrenderers to help them find a job after completing the rehabilitation program. According to Rodriguez, all drug surrenderers are monitored by COSAP even after their graduation from the program.

One of the requirements to complete the program is for a drug surrenderer to participate in coastal clean-up or tree-planting activities. The participants to the community-based rehabilitation program are those included in the drug watchlist of the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

They were encouraged to join the rehab program to have their names removed from the watchlist.

Rodriguez said that COSAP has been very active in reaching out to the barangay officials, partner agencies to introduce their programs. COSAP, along with PDEA-7 personnel, has been conducting house-to-house visits of drug surrenderers as part of the drug-clearing program of the government.

COSAP also handles the intensified rehabilitation program of illegal drug users and pushers using different approaches like engaging drug dependents to recovery sessions. — FPL (FREEMAN)