18 illegal drug surrenderers finish rehab; offered jobs
By Rogelio Limpin
BACOOR CITY, Cavite, April 4 (PNA) -– Around 18 illegal drug surrenderers graduated from this city government’s 45-day
community-based drug rehabilitation program and were offered jobs by a manpower agency on Tuesday.
The reformed illegal drug users/pushers completed their 45-day rehab program which began first week of February under the auspices of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) skills enhancement and capacity-building training and graduated in a simple ceremony at the Bacoor Government Center here.
Bacoor City Mayor Lani Mercado-Revilla conferred the certificates of completion to the 18 rehab graduates and also presented their spouses and children/dependents who were also provided cash for work while the surrenderers’ underwent the 45-day rehab sessions.
Mayor Revilla also expressed her appreciation to the program proponents and graduation guests Bryan Revilla, chief operating officer of Alpha Philippines, a community based organization that ministered the spiritual counselling of the surrenderers.
She said “it is not the numbers of graduates that are important here as it is the quality of transforming themselves into changed persons and the support of their families and their acceptance anew in mainstream society.â€
Cavite deputy police director for administration Superitendent Gregorio Evangelista and Bacoor City chief of police Christopher Olazo also graced the occasion.
The police officials said "what is significant in this project is not about the the statistics of surrenderer graduates but rather on how scores have been saved from the havoc wrought by illegal drugs.â€
In an interview, Anselmo Silva, one of the rehab program graduates, vowed “never to return to this kind of vices claiming he is a new person now as he is welcomed back to the society as a reformed individual."
The rehab program covered livelihood tutorials and training sessions such as producing plastic decorative baskets, spiritual counselling, sports program and lectures by the Cavite PNP on the ill effects of illegal drugs and the comprehensive dangerous drugs law.
A non-government organization (NGO), “Bridges of Hopeâ€, also served as a project partner of the city government and police collaborative rehabilitation program for the illegal drug surrenderers. (PNA)
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