Zamboanga del Sur town implements rehab, livelihood programs for drug surrenderees

http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?&sid=6&pfn=906048&arch=1&go=Go&search_arch=Pagadian%20City,%20Zamboanga%20del%20Sur&andor=and&mdte_arch=7&ddte_arch=0&ydte_arch=2016

PAGADIAN CITY, Zamboanga del Sur, July 21 (PNA) -– The local government of the nearby town of Dumalinao has designed programs to rehabilitate and provide livelihood assistance to “drug personalities” who surrendered to the government authorities.

The initial batch of drug personality-surrenderees consist of 375 individuals. The police authorities refer drug personalities to either pushers or users.

Dumalinao Mayor Junaflor Cerilles told the Philippines News Agency that most of the drug personalities who surrendered are farmers.

Cerilles said they will undergo workshop as part of their rehabilitation process before they will be employed to render community service.

The community service included tree and mangrove planting, garbage collection and clean-up activities.

Cerilles said those aged 35 and below will be absorbed under her program intended for the students dubbed as “Go Greem Dumalinao.”

She said the program is her immediate and outright response to provide assistance to the drug surrenderees to enable them to start a new life.

Chief Insp. Lee Eric Humpa, Dumalinao police chief, said they will have to undergo rehabilitation for six months before they would be accommodated into the livelihood program.

Humpa warned the drug personalities that legal actions will be taken against them if they will not support efforts to resolving the problems on the proliferation of prohibited drugs in the municipality of Dumalinao. (PNA)
LAP/TPGJR/HIROHITO D. CADION