ILOILO City – More than one-third of the 21,021 persons who use drugs (PWUDs) or drug surrenderers in the region have availed themselves of community-based rehabilitation programs, according to the Department of Health (DOH)-Center for Health Development in Western Visayas.
DOH regional senior health program officer John Richard Lapascua said some 7,510 drug surrenderers have availed of rehabilitation initiated by local government units in the region from January 2018 to June 20, 2019.
The rehabilitated PWUDs came from Aklan with 1,420; Antique, 575; Capiz, 2,469; Guimaras, 391; Iloilo province, 1,080; Negros Occidental, 162; Iloilo City, 1,268; and Bacolod City, 145.
They were screened using the World Health Organization’s alcohol, smoking and substance involvement screening test.
Last April, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency initiated the opening of Balay Silangan Reformation Centers in Capiz and Iloilo.
The rehabilitation center initially accommodated 50 drug-pusher surrenderers.
Two additional centers are also expected to operate in Alimodian and Miagao, both in Iloilo this coming July.
Presidential Communications Operations Office assistant secretary for the Office of Brand Integration Ramon Cualoping III said the government’s “Rehabinasyon” is still ongoing.
The national government’s anti-illegal drug campaign continues to reach out to all stakeholders to ensure that its success is shared by the whole country.
“I think we have huge wins. The past two years, we’ve done a lot of strides and accomplishments in terms of rehabilitating our countrymen,” Cualoping said.
He also emphasized during his talk that the government’s war on drugs “is actually an investment for the future.”
In his message, he also revealed that the government’s “Tokhang” has produced 1.3 million drug surrenderers, who volunteered and were inspired to change for the better.
“The 1.3 million is a very good number because it signifies a huge chunk of drug users in this country,” he said. (With a report from PNA/PN)
