149 drug surrenderers finish rehab program
A total of 149 drug surrenderers from Medellin graduated yesterday from the community-based rehabilitation program after almost four months of personal, religious, and skills training.
There were at least 255 drug surrenderers who enrolled in the first batch but only 149 finished the program.
Grace Caburnay, municipal officer of the Department of the Interior and Local Government in Medellin, said that they have firmly implemented the rehabilitation program.
“Once ang usa ka surrenderee mu absent ka usa kay automatic matangtang na gyod siya sa program. Mostly kay sa absences gyod,” said Caburnay.
The program required the drug surrenderers to meet twice a week for their personal, religious, and other modules, which includes health, education, and PNP related class.
Caburnay said that there were drug tests conducted every session to ensure that the drug surrenderers did not return to old habits.
“Usa pud sa factor, og mo-positive sa drug tests automatic tangtang na pud siya sa program,” Caburnay added.
The said program was initiated by Medellin Mayor Joven Mondigo Jr. and was implemented in the barangay level. Of the 19 barangays of Medellin, 10 joined the program.
Caburnay said that they already prepared the second batch of the community-based program and they expected that the number of drug surrenderers will increase because all barangays have already joined.
Among those who finished the rehabilitation program, 28 were given special awards for showing exemplary efforts during the fourmonth training.
“Dako kaayo ang among nakita nga kausaban nila. Kung sa una, magduko-duko rana sila during sa mga first meetings karon kay makiginteract na sila. Na boast ang confidence sa atong mga drug surrenderrers nga nakita nila nga gi-welcome sila pagbalik sa community,” Caburnay said.
There are also several job opportunities await to all drug surrenderers because they are given priority in job openings in the municipality.
Meanwhile, Medellin police chief Maria Theresa Gutierez said they will continue to monitor the activities of those who graduate from the program to ensure that they do not come back to old vices.