'Yakap Bayan' to help drug addicts

The Department of Social Welfare and Development ( DSWD) has launched the "Yakap Bayan" program aimed at helping erase the stigma of drug addiction and transform former drug dependents into productive community leaders.

DSWD Secretary Judy Taguiwalo said the program will provide medical and psychosocial interventions, such as detoxification and counseling, to drug dependents in the first six months of their rehabilitation.

"Within this period, we will teach them to do community service," she said during a public forum Wednesday.

The next 18 months, she said, will be the re-integration phase, during which the recovering drug dependents will be given livelihood training and introduced to capacity-building activities, including training on disaster response, as part of their involvement in community service.

Taguiwalo said the ultimate goal is to turn the former drug dependents into leaders who could themselves be at the front line during disasters and train others on disaster management.

She expressed hope that the former drug dependents could join the campaign against drugs by encouraging other drug dependents to start a new chapter in their lives.

"Mahalagang matulungan sila sa pagsisikap na mabura ang stigma sa mga tumalikod na sa droga (It is important that they get help in removing the stigma associated with drug addiction)," Taguiwalo said.