200 graduate from Koronadal drug rehabilitation program

KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato − Some 200 drug surrenderers here have undergone a month-long community based rehabilitation program initiated by the city government.

City administrator Cyrus Urbano said former drug personalities, who earlier voluntarily surrendered to local authorities, were able to hurdle the rehabilitation program launched by the local government in partnership with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), city police office and Chasers for Change, a multi-sectoral group which provided lecturers and foster mentors during the training.

He said the city health office provided psychiatrists and psychologists to assess and diagnose the drug surrenderers who were also enlisted into the livelihood skills and training programs conducted by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

The former drug patients were also enrolled into the Alternative Learning System of the Department of Education (DepEd).

City Mayor Peter Miguel enjoined barangay officials to actively participate in the program by encouraging local drug dependents in their respective villages to enlist in the drug rehabilitation program.

He said the city government will continue monitoring the activities of the drug rehabilitation program graduates to ensure that they will not go back to their illegal drug activities.

LAST DAYS OF SUMMER – Excursionists take advantage of the remaining days of summer as they frolic on this floating cottage anchored off the shore of Barangay Pangubatan in Samal Island, Davao del Norte. (Keith Bacongco)