TACLOBAN CITY (CIO) – The City Government of Tacloban through the leadership of Mayor Cristina G. Romualdez observed on Wednesday the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking (IDADAIT) with the completion ceremony of 175 former drug offenders who underwent the 6-month Drug Rehabilitation under the City’s New Beginnings Program.

Held at the Tacloban City Convention Center (Astrodome) the event was attended by members of the NBP Technical Working which comprises among others, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Department of Health, PhilHealth, Department of Health and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Mayor-elect Alfred S. Romualdez who delivered the inspirational talk during the event committed his administration’s support for the sustainability of the program, which he said is serious business. He encouraged those who completed the drug rehabilitation program to at least “refer” two or more drug offenders to ensure the continuity of the program. “

“…Be rest assured (that) we support this program, but I want sustainability…one life is important to me as a thousand lives,” emphasized the incoming Mayor.

Tacloban City Council Committee on Health Chairperson Councilor Elvira Casal and Bishop Augusto Sanchez, also delivered their respective messages during the completion ceremony.

The completers which came from 55 barangays, included 3 minors (or Child in Conflict with the Law) and 42 were drug personalities who availed of the plea bargaining agreement.

Coinciding with the event, the DSWD distributed 5,000 pesos each to the twenty-nine reformed drug offenders from the first batch of the New Beginnings Program. The amount represented the financial support of the agency for Persons Who Used Drugs (PWUDs) under its aftercare program.

Meantime, members of the New Beginnings Program (NBP) Technical Working Group led by Dr. Gloria Frabrigas, NBP Focal Person and Head of the Special Projects for Health of the City Government, PDEA Acting Regional Director Edgar Jubay and City Social Welfare Officer Fe Chona Bahin inaugurated the Balay Silangan on Wednesday.

The facility located in Brgy. Diit is a reformatory facility for drug offenders that will provide general interventions, like continuing education and health awareness, and psychological/spiritual/physical activities such as counseling, moral recovery, values formation, personal and life skills, among others.

According to Bahin, the facility which will be maintained by the City Government will have an initial 5 “client-residents.”

Presidential Proclamation No. 264 signed in 1988, mandates the yearly observance of IDADAIT to strengthen action and cooperation to achieve the goal of an international society free of drugs.- H.J. Roca/CIO

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Photos: D. Abarquez/CIO