THREE out of the 105 drug surrenderers in Lapu-Lapu City failed to receive livelihood assistance from the city government after testing positive for illegal drug use on Tuesday, April 11, 2023.
The City of Lapu-Lapu Office for Substance Abuse Prevention (Closap) had conducted a surprise drug test prior to the distribution of the P5,000 assistance at the Lapu-Lapu City Sports Complex.
Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan said the three individuals who tested positive will be endorsed to a drug rehabilitation program. They also face a police investigation since they failed to comply with the guidelines, which state that they should no longer use illegal drugs.
The livelihood assistance under the city’s Sustainable Livelihood Program was received by the 102 other drug surrenderers from Barangays Basak, Calawisan, Looc, Pajo and Poblacion.
Each drug surrenderer had to come up with proposals for how they would like to invest the money in a livelihood, with some expressing intentions to use it for a sari-sari store, fruit stall, among others.
City Councilor Annabeth Cuizon, who was present during the distribution, said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will provide additional livelihood assistance amounting to P10,000 if the drug surrenderers use the city government’s P5,000 assistance for a sustainable livelihood.
The recipients will be monitored by the City Social Welfare and Development Office and Closap for six months for this purpose.
Their receipts, based on their budget proposals, will also be collected by the Gender and Development focal person in their respective barangays.
Meanwhile, Chan is also considering hiring some of the drug surrenderers to work as carpenters and garbage truck drivers and collectors, thus he directed Closap Executive Director Garry Lao to evaluate those who are qualified for the job.
The mayor emphasized that they aim to have all other barangays in the city declared as drug-cleared or drug-free barangays, which is why he asked for the cooperation of the drug surrenderers.
Only Barangay Caohagan has so far been declared a drug-free village in the city, while Barangays Tingo, Baring, Tungasan, Caw-oy, Subabasbas (mainland barangay), and Sabang in Olango Island were declared as drug-cleared barangays.
Barangays that have been declared as drug-cleared are those that were previously labeled as drug-affected due to the presence of drug personalities such as illegal drug users, pushers and drug dens. However, they have undergone verification processes to validate their efforts and campaigns in addressing the drug problem in their respective areas.
The drug-free barangays are those that have no reported cases of illegal drug users, pushers or any illegal drug activities.