Pangasinan Reformation Center opens Feb. 28
FINALLY, IN BURGOS TOWN
THE inauguration and blessing of the newly completed Pangasinan Reformation Center is set on February 28.
The center, which will be operational on March 7, will be used for in-house after-care training of drug users and pushers who have completed the Community-based Rehabilitation Program (CBRP).
Located on a two-hectare donated land in Barangay San Vicente, Burgos town, the center is the response of the provincial government to the continuing war on drugs in the province that led to the voluntary surrender of some 19,000 drug personalities on the watchlist.
Retired Philippine Navy Captain Carlos Resurreccion, head of the secretariat of the Provincial Anti-Drug-abuse Coordinating Council (PDACC), was designated by Gov. Amado Espino III to oversee the center’s operation.
Resurreccion clarified, however, that although the center can accommodate 100 to 150 clients at one time, the first batch on March 7 will be only 50.
He said the center will focus on livelihood training as an after-care intervention to make them productive for their families.
“It will be an integrated reformation program that will ensure them livelihood to support their respective families,” he said.
Asked why it was a reformation center and not a rehabilitation center, Resurreccion said, “in the first place, we don’t have the capability and medical staff to maintain a rehabilitation program for drug addiction.”
He pointed out that reformation program was also decided on knowing that after the CBRP, there is a tendency for the reformed drug users to go back to their old habits if no livelihood alternative is provided them.
The provincial government has enlisted the support of EEI Global Inc. for the center that will provide the11-day training and for which the clients will receive an allowance of P200 daily, and who in turn will be employed by partner-companies that will enable them to earn P512 daily.
The clients will be trained to be skilled carpenters, masons and on other sundry manual work.
Resurreccion said the initial plan is to conduct two trainings a month until all the reformed drug users shall have all been trained.
He stressed, however, that enlistment in the center is voluntary, and not required. (Leonardo Micua)
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
