PSYCHOSOCIAL SUPPORT. A drug offender participates in a psychosocial session organized by the Davao City Anti-Drug Abuse Council. The council resumes operations this month after a lull following the declaration of a national health emergency in March to contain the coronavirus disease. (Photo courtesy of the Davao City Anti-Drug Abuse Council)
DAVAO CITY – The City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (CADAC) has already resumed operations after its regular activities were relaxed following the national health emergency declaration in March to contain the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
Speaking at the One Davao on Covid-19 virtual presser Friday (July 24), CADAC adviser and district program supervisor Kenneth Tee said psychosocial and spiritual sessions on persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) resumed after the city was put on the less restrictive modified general community quarantine from July 15 to July 31.
With the resumption, Tee said the council is now conducting its regular drug-free workplace training among businesses, as mandated by a city ordinance. Because of the existing health protocols, however, he said the training now focuses on service-oriented institutions such as hotels and schools.
Out of the more than 15,000 companies in Davao City, CADAC has already conducted training for 2,879 companies, Tee said. Drug testing of the workers is incorporated into the training activity.
From January to the current month, CADAC is serving 132 persons deprived of liberty (PDLs) who have accepted a plea bargaining agreement to reform and go back to the community after finishing the required three-month psycho and spiritual sessions with CADAC.
Te said urged village officials to monitor drug offenders who are under the program, noting that a number of them went into relapse.
“Addiction is chronic as defined by medical experts, so there is a need for extensive monitoring by the police and barangay officials,” he said.
To help prevent recidivism, the local government as provided under an ordinance is providing PHP1,500 monthly allowance to PDLs for their fare in going to directly concerned agencies like health center and city social services development office (CSSDO) for their regular health check-up and counseling. (PNA)
