397 surrenderers complete rehab program in Sogod
The town of Sogod in northern Cebu marks a 60 percent success rate in the implementation of the communitybased treatment and support services for drug dependents as they become the second town in the region to complete the program for the first batch of surrenderers.
Department of Health in Central Visayas (DOH7) medical officer Dr. Dino Caing, head of the agency’s non-communicable disease section, said a total of 397 out of 531 drug surrenderers enrolled in the program were given their certificates of completion last September 8, Friday.
Because of this achievement, DOH-7 gave out around 300,000 drug testing kits to the local government unit of Sogod to support their community-based program.
San Remigio, the first town in the region to complete the program, logged a 54 percent success rate.
Caing said Friday’s recognition activity was attended by Congressman Ramon “Red” Durano and Department of the Interior and Local Government-7 Regional Director Atty. Rene Burdeos, along with some police officials and anti-drug unit representatives.
Those who have completed the program are now eligible to proceed to the next phase which is the “reintegration to the society” wherein they will be given scholarships and enrolled in livelihood or skills training programs.
“They cannot move forward if they will not be conferred with the certificate of completion,” Caing said.
He also said that those who did not graduate may have either tested positive in the periodic drug tests or were absent during some of the counseling sessions.
The next stage, he said, will be handled by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, the Commission on Higher Education, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, and the Department of Labor and Employment, among others.
Caing added that the municipality of Carmen is next in line to complete their first batch of communitybased treatment program.
He said all local government units are required to adopt the DOHsanctioned community based treatment and support services in response to the unprecedented influx of drug dependents who earlier surrendered to authorities.
Other localities in the region are either starting or are still continuing the program.