CEBU, Philippines - “If there is life, there is hope.”
This belief was what made the Department of Social Welfare and Development-7 launched Strategies Towards Acceptance, Re-integration and Transformation (START) for poor drug dependents who have undergone treatment as a way to make them realize that there is hope and that they can change for the better.
The program is a community-based intervention strategy particularly for recovering drug dependents that have undergone treatment, rehabilitation and after-care program in various government-owned facilities and are being prepared for discharge and re-integration to their families and community.
Shalaine Marie Lucero, DSWD-7 assistant regional director for operations, said the program’s inter-agency mechanism is to enhance the synergy and collaboration of different national government agencies, local government units, and treatment and rehabilitation centers in responding to the needs of drug dependents and their families.
“Through our strong partnership, we will make this program implementation successful,” Lucero said.
Lucero highlighted the “Kaya Ko ang Pagbabago” campaign of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) that with cooperation of various stakeholders, START will be successful.
“We believe that drug dependents can also change for the better and trust that there is hope for them,” she said.
The program includes provision of psychosocial services like counseling, family camps or retreats and provision of livelihood assistance and development of life skills. It also includes the increased capacity to avail or access medicines needed for rehabilitation, and facilitate continuous treatment in close coordination with the Treatment and Rehabilitation Center.
Organizing and mobilizing groups of drug dependents are also part to strengthen the efforts in support of the program.
Also present during the launching of the program was Talisay City Mayor Johnny De los Reyes, local government units of Cebu City and Dumaguete City as represented by their City Social Welfare and Development Officer.
Also present were representatives from various government agencies like the Department of Health, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Agriculture, Department of Education, Department of Interior and Local Government, Commission on Higher Education, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, Public Employment Service Office and Cebu Provincial Anti-drug Abuse Council.
Aside from Region 7, the pilot program implementation also covers the National Capital Region, Region 5 and Region 10. (FREEMAN)