DSWD proposes community-based rehab for drug users

Proposed DSWD National Drug Rehabilitation Program

A proposed government program aims to "pave lasting solutions" for the country's drug problem.

According to Social Welfare secretary Judy Taguiwalo, the Philippines' drug problem should be addressed by aiming at its root causes, such as:

1. Poverty caused by lack of social support for many Filipinos,

2. Corruption in various levels in the various agencies of government, and

3. Lack of sustainable, productive employment for the poor.

Thus, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) came up with the so-called "National Drug Rehabilitation Program," which aims to help drug dependents return to society as "productive members".

Under the program, drug dependents can undergo three pillars of interventions: center-based, community-based, and reintegration and transformation-focused.

Center-based interventions will be led by the health department, which is tasked to create a database or profile of surrenderers.

Community-based interventions will be led by the local government and Ugnayan ng Barangay at Simbahan, which will design a community-based rehabilitation centers.

Reintegration and transformation, meanwhile, will be led by the DSWD, which will provide aftercare services for recovering drug dependents.

The lead groups will be working with partner agencies such as the National Bureau of Investigation, Philippine National Police, Dangerous Drugs Board, Department of Interior and Local Government, and Technical and Skills Development Authority, among others.

This comprehensive program is in line with President Rodrigo Duterte's "personal request" for the creation of a program for drug dependents, Taguiwalo said during an event attended by advocates of women's rights and welfare on Thursday.

They already proposed a budget of P1.5 billion for use until 2017, and are awaiting word from the Department of Budget and Management, she said.

As of August 30, the police counted over half a million drug surrenderers.

Data from the ABS-CBN Investigative and Research Group also showed that as of October 7, 1,976 drug-related fatalities were reported since May 10.

The government's anti-drug campaign has been criticized by human rights groups and international bodies.

However, Duterte dismissed these comments, and said the administration did not sanction extrajudicial killings. He also reassured the public that the government is doing what it can to rehabilitate drug surrenderers.

Source: http://news.abs-cbn.com/focus/10/08/16/dswd-proposes-community-based-rehab-for-drug-users