REFORMATION PROGRAM. Thirty-four drug surrenderers graduate from the community-based rehabilitation program in Angeles City, Pampanga on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2020. City Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr., cited the importance of the implementation of the prevention and reformation programs on drug abuse that could help drug surrenderers reform their lives. (Photo courtesy of the Angeles City Information Office)
ANGELES CITY, Pampanga – Thirty-four drug surrenderers graduated on Thursday from the city’s community-based rehabilitation program.
City Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr., during the ceremony, cited the importance of the implementation of the prevention and reformation programs on drug abuse that could help drug surrenderers reform their lives.
Lazatin said his administration’s top agenda is to establish a drug-free city.
“Following my top agenda which aims to ensure a drug-free community in the city, the Angeles City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (ACADAC) program provides comprehensive activities for outpatients in hopes of total reformation from substance abuse,” he said.
The ACADAC, he said, is not a law enforcement entity, but a counseling and treatment center that provides support groups, seminars, and other activities such as counseling, lectures, outreach programs, tree-planting, family intervention, among others.
“This focuses on spreading awareness and implementing prevention and reformation, as well as the essence of family intervention,” the mayor said.
He added that a family intervention program will help improve the relationship between the outpatients and their families.
“The activity invites family members to a seminar that helps them regain trust and knowledge about their outpatient relatives,” he added.
Richard Alan Saul, officer-in-charge of the ACADAC, likewise said the activities during the program will build the self-esteem of outpatients that would help them live a better life and avoid relapses to substance abuse.
“Bagong buhay, bagong panimula, bagong pag-asa (New life, new beginning, new hope) is the revolving theme of the ACADAC. The lectures and the seminars are meant to give the outpatients a thorough understanding of the effects of illegal substances to the body and to legal matters,” he added.
Saul said the success rate of the ACADAC is around 80 percent in terms of outpatients finishing the duration of the program.
After graduating, he said the ACADAC also helps the outpatients gain livelihood and job opportunities.
“Other activities, such as the Narcotics Anonymous, are support group provided by the ACADAC in hopes of helping the outpatients be consistent in their rehabilitation,” he said.
The mayor also said the newly-constructed Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) – Angeles City headquarters is set to be inaugurated this January.
“This is one of our efforts to utilize anti-drug-related programs at the grassroots level which aims to ensure that Angeles City will be drug-cleared,” he added. (PNA)
