Benguet town completes community drug rehab

BUGUIAS, Benguet — This top vegetable producing town in the country was able to graduate 165 drug surrenderers who completed a 10-month community based drug rehabilitation program of the local government.

Dr. Hilda Kimakim, Municipal Health Officer, said there were 385 initial enrollees in February 2017 when they started the “Prodigal Son” symposium.

However, there were dropouts, most of them migrant workers in the town, who left the area.

She said the program involves a communitybased drug rehabilitation program pattered after the Ifugao Reflection Camp (IRC).

Kimakim explained twice a week for six months, the enrollees reported and underwent a psychological and psychiatric assessment. There were group works, team building activities and mostly reflections, that made the enrollees realize the importance of not engaging in illegal drugs.

She said there were also needs assessments done on the enrollees to find out what assistance they need or want, to help them after they complete the rehabilitation.

“As of most them were drivers who transport vegetables, they asked

for additional skills training like heavy equipment operating, welding and painting in addition to their driving skills,” she noted.

Kimakim said also included in the program were the Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), for a holistic rehabilitation and change of lifestyle of the surrenderers.

The doctor, who led the town’s drug rehabilitation program, said they extended the same for up to 10 months to allow the enrollees to complete it.

Asked about the others who dropped out, she said “the certificate of completion entitles them to have their names delisted,” she said.

Buguias had 585 surrenderers at the start of the term of President Rodrigo Duterte and the others who were unable to finish the program and were not able to join the graduation are still required to complete them. “Hopefully, they enroll for the second batch,” Kimakim said.

Mayor Ruben Tindaan said the GILAS-Buguias, an acronym comprised of Kankanaey words meaning “a group of sons of Buguias who support the town’s progress”, was formed in 2016 after President Duterte encouraged those engaged in illegal drugs to voluntarily surrender and avail of the services of the government.

“In our town, the residents are obedient to authorities. They follow and believe in what their authorities tell them,” he said.