Lapu-Lapu to provide skills dev’t, jobs to drug surrenderers

By John Rey Saavedra

June 1, 2023, 7:43 pm

<p><strong>JOBS FOR SURRENDERERS</strong>. Mayor Junard Chan speaks before drug surrenderers who signed up for the Community of Peace Alay Trabaho, Iwas Droga (COPatid) Program launched on Thursday (June 1, 2023) in Lapu-Lapu City. The program will give drug surrenderers a chance to land a job or get a livelihood so that they will no longer go back to their usual activities. <em>(Contributed photo)</em></p>

JOBS FOR SURRENDERERS. Mayor Junard Chan speaks before drug surrenderers who signed up for the Community of Peace Alay Trabaho, Iwas Droga (COPatid) Program launched on Thursday (June 1, 2023) in Lapu-Lapu City. The program will give drug surrenderers a chance to land a job or get a livelihood so that they will no longer go back to their usual activities. (Contributed photo)

LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu – The local government here and the police have partnered with the private sector in providing skills and livelihood for drug surrenderers who become anti-drug advocates.

On Thursday, Mayor Junard Chan and Lapu-Lapu City police director, Col. Elmer Lim, led other officials and the private sector in launching the Community of Peace Alay Trabaho, Iwas Droga (COPatid) program aimed to shepherd surrenderers and individuals arrested for drug cases so that they will not go back to their usual illegal drug trade.

Lim said the program will strengthen the effort to reduce the demand for illegal drugs in the community by providing skills training, livelihood opportunities, and access to capital for the drug surrenderers.

“We have a drug reduction awareness campaign. We have a lot of activities conducted and our rehabilitation effort is ongoing. But without the effort of helping the drug surrenderers, they will return to their usual illegal activities,” Lim said in his speech as he introduced the program.

He admitted that the illegal drug traders are still lurking in this historical island city victimizing hapless citizens.

“In 2022, the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office confiscated PHP350 million worth of shabu. As of today, from January to May accomplishment, we have recorded a total of PHP150 million worth of shabu confiscated in our area of jurisdiction,” Lim said, explaining the importance of initiatives that will keep surrenderers off the usual illicit activities.

He observed that many surrenderers, probationers, and convicts would go back to illegal drug peddling due to the absence of a program that will take care of their livelihood or jobs for them to earn a living.

Chan, for his part, urged the drug surrenderers to value the effort of the government in eradicating drugs in the community.

“If you value your lives, do not go back to your usual trade. The government loves you. That’s why we have this program that provides you with skills, livelihood, and financial assistance,” the mayor said.
About 50 drug surrenderers attended the launch and signed up for the program. (PNA)

 

 

Comments