Capitol to employ drug surrenderers

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – At least 2,350 drug surrenderers in Pampanga will be employed in shortterm jobs, which is part of a rehabilitation program being implemented by the Provincial Government in support of President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign to end illegal drugs in the country.

Acting Governor Dennis Pineda said the employment of drug surrenderers is made possible through the partnership of the Provincial Employment Services Office (Peso) and Department of Labor and Employment (Dole).

This is the result of the appeal of Governor Lilia Pineda for the local governments and regional agencies to combine their resources in fighting illegal drugs, the acting governor said during a meeting with chiefs of police on Monday, April 24.

“To make our communities drugs-resistant, we must continuously extend help to drug users and pushers who are willing to reform,” he said.

The vice governor instructed chiefs of police in the province’s 19 towns and two cities to identify and interview drug surrenderers who can qualify for Dole’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers. They include 163 relatives of inmates at the provincial jail.

They will be paid P364 per day during the 10-day work period, Peso chief Luningning Vergara said.

Angelina Blanco, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council officer, said the prospective employees will be hired in community clean-up drives and disaster preparedness work.

The Pampanga Manpower Training Center of the Provincial Government is tasked to help the police in identifying the training needs among the more than 22,000 drug users who yielded to authorities since July 2016.

The Provincial Government’s anti-drug campaign Dalan ning Pamagbayu (Road to Change) assists drug surrenderers through laboratory tests, sports activities, psycho-social counseling for individuals and families, aid for rehabilitation treatment, support to village-level reformatory centers and mobilization of volunteers.