COSAP gets US invite

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu City Office for Substance Abuse Prevention (COSAP) got an invitation from the US government to enhance its Community-based Drug Rehabilitation Program (CBDRP).

COSAP executive director Jonah John Rodriguez said it is an honor to be invited by the US to learn and explore more programs that can help drug surrenderers in the city.

Rodriguez said such an invitation showed that COSAP has earned the trust and confidence of the other countries, including its US counterpart.

"Moduaw ta og nagkadaiyang rehabilitation centers sa maong lugar. Mokuha ta og idea niini nga mahimong ma-apply sa Cebu City," Rodriguez told The Freeman.

Rodriguez said he might fly to the US in the middle of this year. He intends to bring some of COSAP’s recovery coaches for exposure.

Before this opportunity, some officials from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), including Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam, visited Cebu City to check on the city’s drug rehabilitation program.

COSAP, which handles the program, shared ideas and best practices to the visiting officials as far as drug rehabilitation is concerned.

The city government uses CBDRP as a tool to give drug surrenderers in the city another chance at life. — Sanden J. Anadia, FPL (FREEMAN)