THE Cagayan de Oro City Government on Monday, November 19, kicked off the Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Week celebration but noted that despite the intensified campaign against illegal drugs, some 28 villages still do not have the mandated community-based rehabilitation program (CBRP).
The list includes urban barangays 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 30, 32, 34, 36, 37, 38, 39, and 40. Hinterland villages such as Besigan, Dansolihon, Tumpagon, Pigasag-an, Taglimao, Tagpangi, Bayanga, Pagalungan, and barangay Pagatpat also do not have their own CBRP. Barangays Balulang, Indahag, Consolacion, Bonbon, Balubal and Puerto have yet to activate their CBRP too.
Rhyselle Descallar, head of the Oro Citizens Wellness and Development Center said there are a number of factors why barangays fail to follow the mandate.
"First, there was a change of administration in the barangay level, so those are newly-elected are still adjusting. Second, the budgetary constraints, and under Dangerous Drug Board, the barangays should allot substantial amount for the program. Third, some village officials are really apprehensive to support the program due to political affiliations," Descallar said.
Despite this, Descallar said the Oro Wellness, which is the implementing arm of the City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (CADAC) will continue to reach out to the barangays and let them understand that a drug-free community is the success of the barangay leadership, not of the city.
Descallar said some village officials do not see the need to activate the CBRP since they believe that their barangay is clear of drugs, but she said, the CBRP is still a must and should focus on the prevention side.
"You should also do something on the prevention side and the community support because the numbers may change, today, you may have zero drug users and pushers but that can change tomorrow, so we have to be ready in our campaign," she added.
Descallar said every barangays are mandated to activate their Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BADAC) and the CBRP, and the failure to do such is subject to administrative cases.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has earlier pushed for the strengthening of the community-based drug rehabilitation program (CBDRP) to accommodate the growing number of drug surrenderers in the country.
As part of the celebration, drug surenderees are displaying their products, through their livelihood program, in Gaston Park starting on Monday, November 19, until November 31. The city has also initiated Tabang Medico, a one-stop shop medical checkup for the drug surenderees and their family members.