Boot camp only for moderately affected drug users

By October 16, 2016Inside News, News

ESPINO’S PRIORITY

LINGAYEN—Only those that can be saved, will be saved.

This is how Gov. Amado Espino III views the implementation of the Renewal Program Center for moderately affected drug dependents at Camp Tito Abat in Manaoag town.

In a talk to newsmen shortly after delivering his 100-day accomplishment report before the Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP), Espino said he will soon ask the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office (PPPO) to reclassify the 16,253 self-confessed drug–affected persons who surrendered according to their degree of affectation to determine who should be prioritized to be accepted to the center.

Espino initially allocated P10 million for the planned Renewal Program Center, which seeks to put moderately-affected drug dependents in boot camp military training with focus on values formation and counseling.

The governor said there is still no feasible program and facilities for hardened drug.

He told newsmen that the Renewal Program Center will initially accommodate from 200 to 250 drug users who surrendered and considered moderately affected at one-time for a three-day encampment where they will be made to undergo rigorous physical exercises, listen to lectures on Christian values and renewal and on how to live without drugs.

After three days, they will be replaced by another batch of 200 to 250 drug users.

He said he applied for authority to build the center at Camp Tito Abat with the Philippine Army but the request is still awaiting approval from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

Another option for the proposed Renewal Program Center is a lot in Burgos town donated to the provincial government by the late Burgos Mayor Demetrio Cabiles sometime in 1990 where the then Administration of Gov. Rafael Colet intended to put up a drug rehabilitation center.

The project was started by then Vice Governor Gonzalo Duque through some donations from the Priority Development Assistance Fund of senators but was discontinued when Colet lost his reelection bid.

“We will verify next week if we still own the lot donated to the provincial government,” Espino said. (Leonardo Micua)

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