LAOAG CITY— More than 4,700 drug users in Ilocos Norte have been rehabilitated while the rest of those who surrendered in the province are still undergoing cleansing through the so-called Community-Based Rehabilitation Program (CBRP).
The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) recorded a total of 4,773 persons who already completed their CBRP training out of the 6,277 individuals who surrendered to the Philippine National Police (PNP) as of September 30, 2017.
The CBRP training consists of 13 modules that a drug surrenderer needs to complete. A joint Peace and Order Council and Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council meeting was held at the Capitol auditorium here on Oct. 2.
At the meeting, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Corazon Lillian Celia Rin provided updates about the treatment programs being conducted by local government units from April to September, this year.
Based on PSWDO record, San Nicolas town is among the first to implement the CBRP for 110 persons who participated in a two-day Lenten retreat with the help of religious groups in April 2017.
They also underwent moral recovery program. A month later, at least 142 of the total 476 who surrendered in San Nicolas town were trained as emergency responders in case of calamities.
They also helped in the clean-up drive program of the municipality. Of the 21 towns and two cities of the province, only the towns of Bangui, Dumalneg, Badoc, Banna and Paoay have yet to launch the CBRP training for persons who use drugs, Rin added in her report.
As of September 30, 2017, the Ilocos Norte Police Provincial Office reported that 430 out of the 513 drug affected barangays were already cleared.
An affected barangay means there is an identified drug user or pusher. Ilocos Norte is composed of 557 barangays.
With President Rodrigo Duterte’s ongoing campaign against drugs, LGUs were prompted to conduct CBRP training to handle hundreds and thousands of drug surrenderers seeking to reform their ways.
Activities under the CBRP being conducted by LGUs here are skills trainings on goat raising, cookery, carpentry, mushroom production, Zumba dance, and other sports activities. PNA-northboundasia.com