ONLY 3,635 out of the 7,501 drug surrenderees graduated from the community-based drug treatment programs provided by the Cebu Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Office (Cpadao).
In a press conference last Wednesday, CPADAO executive director Carmen Durano-Meca said some surrenderees failed to graduate from the CBDT program due to different factors. One of the main reasons is their failure to sustain the treatment as they need to be at their day jobs.
But despite the small number that graduated, Meca said they expect more to avail of the program in the future as they are increasing the number of barangays in Cebu Province that will have CBDT programs.
As of yesterday, around 35 barangays in the Cebu Province are now being scrutinized by the anti-illegal drug oversight committee to determine if they are “drug free” or not.
These 35 barangays now have CBDT programs, Meca said.
Last year, around 160 barangays in Cebu Province were declared as drug free.
Meca said the oversight committee has yet to declare the 35 barangays as “drug-free” as they need to check their CBDT programs.
Meca urged drug surrenderers to approach the barangays particularly the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BADAC), if they wish to avail of the CBDT program.
Once a drug surrenderer graduates from the program, it doesn’t mean he or she is off the hook.
Drug surrenderers will still undergo irregular monitoring from their BADAC’s, Meca added. (Jeany C. Abit, CNU Intern)