Cuyo launches program for Oplan Tokhang surrenderers

Four barangays in the Municipality of Cuyo have signed a Tripartite Agreement with the Provincial Government and the Municipality of Cuyo for the implementation of the Community Enhancement and Livelihood Program (CELP), a community-based drug recovery program for the Oplan Tokhang Surrenderers.

Punong Barangay Amado C. Timbancaya of Brgy. Bancal, Leonard M. Dela Torre of Brgy. Cabigsing, Ariel Ola of Brgy. Suba and Felix T. Falconitin of Brgy. Tenga Tenga have signed the agreement ensuring the implementation of the communitybased drug recovery program in their respective barangays.

The signing of the agreement was held at the Sangguniang Bayan Conference Hall of Cuyo and was witnessed by Vice Mayor Christopher Jake Tan, Cuyo Chief of Police Michael Laspunas, council members of the four barangays, heads of departments and other members of the community. The signing was facilitated by Atty. Ariel Abis of the Provincial Legal Office with the CELP Provincial Team.

Cuyo, with 17 barangays, has a total of 79 Oplan Tokhang Surrenderers. 85% of these surrenderers (67) came from the four barangays where CELP is being implemented – Bancal with 20, Cabigsing with 19, Suba with 24 and Tenga-Tenga with 4. Bancal has been declared “drug-cleared barangay” while seven barangays have zero surrenderer and were also declared as drug-free. The 12 surrenderers who will not be enrolled in the CELP are spread in the remaining six barangays.

Prior to the signing, the drug recovery program of the Provincial Government was presented by the CELP Team to Mayor Andrew Ong in Cuyo last February 2018 and immediately, Mayor Ong gave instructions to the Sangguniang Bayan of Cuyo and concerned Municipal Departments to review the program and prepare necessary documentation in order for the program to be implemented in their Municipality.

To prepare the Municipal and the barangay teams who work with the Provincial Team in overseeing and facilitating the program in the barangay, training were provided by the CELP Provincial Team. The training ran for nearly a month which included in-house training, simulation of actual activities and different lectures and activities. There are more than 40 participants from the Municipality of Cuyo who participated in the different trainings.

Cuyo is the eighth (8th) municipality where CELP is being implemented. Similar with other municipalities, Cuyo surrenderers will undergo general intervention activities, six (6) months of structured community-based drug recovery activities and 18 months of monitoring and aftercare activities.

The Municipality of Cuyo, through Vice Mayor Tan, during the Agreement signing expressed support to the program and said “Aga pasalamat ako nga akaabot sa Cuyo ang programa ateng Probinsya tengud sa drug rehabilitation. Ateng suportan and programang dia [I am thankful that the program of the Province reached Cuyo. Let us support this Program].”