A 48-day community-based rehabilitation program will be adopted by the Dagupan City government after the City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (CADAC) approved the plan for the benefit of most of the 1,356 self-confessed drug pushers and users under the Masa-Masid program of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).

Mayor Belen Fernandez, as chairperson, gave the go-signal for the establishment of the drug rehabilitation program, an expanded version of the Sagip Users Rehabilitation and Enhancement (SURE) program of the city government.

The proposal was discussed during the CADAC meeting last week.

DILG City Director Rhoderick Dawis said the 48-day community-based rehab program will be patterned after the successful program adopted in Quezon City that already benefited thousands of drug personalities who became productive citizens anew.

He said the casual drug abusers which constitute about 94 percent of the drug users who are considered low risks will be given priority while the drug dependents that already manifest violent tendencies will be referred to the Dagupan City Drug Rehabilitation and Treatment Center (DCDRTC) for specialized program of rehabilitation that takes a longer time.

A team of trainors that will include volunteers from the religious sector will be organized to implement the 48-day program that will consist of counseling therapy, community and religious service.

Also present during the CADAC meeting held at City Museum were P/Supt. Neil Miro, police chief, as vice chairman, and Raymond Basbas, administrative officer of DCDRTC who reported that the facility is already assessing some 80 drug addicts in the province per day to determine their degree of their addiction.

Meanwhile, SURE focal person Eljohn Pangilinan said the 68 persons who are undergoing the SURE program are being closely monitored to find out if they have completely dropped their drug habit.

Dawis clarified that the Masa Masid program is in support of the Oplan Double Barrel launched by the police from July 1 last year which was later renamed Double Barrel Reloaded.

CADAC meeting agreed that those who will complete the 48-day community based rehabilitation will not only receive a certificate of completion but will be removed from the watch list of drug suspects.

Those who complete the program will also be provided livelihood projects or employment by the city government. (Leonardo Micua)

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