AT least 500 drug surrenderers from the southern town of Argao, Cebu will complete their six-month rehabilitation program on Tuesday, Sept. 26.
Argao Mayor Stanley Caminero said that certificates of recognition will be distributed to the surrenderers in a ceremony dubbed “Lakang sa Kahayag.”
Caminero said that the more than 500 surrenderers are among the 1,747 persons who surrendered to authorities last year, and availed themselves of the government-initiated rehabilitation program.
“We have implemented our community-based drug rehabilitation program. Argao is really big with 45 barangays. For the last six months, we have conducted the drug rehabilitation every Sunday morning, simultaneously for 45 barangays,” said Caminero, a doctor of medicine by profession.
The mayor said that the program is a joint advocacy of various groups like teachers and church leaders who volunteered to assist and facilitate the activity.
“We are according them a grand and symbolic night. We call it Lakang sa Kahayag because it symbolizes their finding of the light, and they are going to walk in the light,” said Caminero.
He said that the rehabilitation program was launched last year in response to the call of President Rodrigo Duterte to address the illegal drug problem in the country. (EOB)