OVER a dozen Fernandino drug reformists joined this year’s major cleanup drive jointly held by the City Government of San Fernando and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Pampanga on March 25 in several key sites.
Joining other personnel from the local government unit, DILG, barangays, and other groups, the reformists, who currently undergo community-based drug rehabilitation program, came from different reformation centers in San Fernando.
“Ang programa nating ito [CBDRP] ay may component na community service. Isa sa mga serbisyong kanilang ginagawa ay ang paglilinis sa ating mga komunidad. Isinama natin sila ngayong araw upang matulungan tayo at maiparamdam natin sa kanila na may katuwang sila, lalo na sa kanilang daan tungo sa pagbabago,” explained Mark Jason Veran, city local government operations officer.
Police Staff Sergeant Patrick Ramos of the City of San Fernando police said their office is presently handling around 100 reformists. These were individuals who voluntarily surrendered to police upon “finding hope and change in reformation.”
Apart from cleanup drives, several activities for the reformists were scheduled within the entire duration of the reformation stage that usually takes at least a month.
“Bukod sa community service na paglilinis, iilan din sa mga aktibidad na ginagawa natin sa kanila ay seminar, lecture series, at livelihood trainings. Iba’t ibang paksa at iba’t ibang area po ang sakop ng mga gawaing ito,” Ramos said.
In this particular activity, reformists, along with other participants, were assigned to clean four key areas along a portion of MacArthur Highway in Del Pilar. With the area being surrounded by commercial and residential establishments, this is among the major waste contributors in the city.
Meanwhile, Marilen Malabanan, City Environment and Natural Resources Officer (Cenro), urged the participants to convey the call to environmental protection to their communities with an oath called “Panatang Makakalikasan.”
As part of its program on solid waste management, the City Government, through the Cenro, annually conducts a series of clean-up drives in barangays, public places, and major thoroughfares.
“Isa sa mga batayan ngayon upang masabi nating ang isang lugar ay ‘sustainable’ at ‘livable’ ay kung paano nito inaalagan ang kalikasan. Ito ay isang paraan upang makamit natin ang mga mithiing ito – sama-samang paglilinis,” Mayor Edwin “EdSa” Santiago said. (PR)