The 14th Sangguniang Panlungsod of Mandaue City discussed during their regular session possible programs for the drug pushers and users who surrendered.
Vice Mayor Carlo Fortuna said they invited speakers to provide inputs to develop a program intended for drug surrenderers.
The resource speakers were Dr. Juan Zaldarriaga Jr., Chief of Hospital II of Cebu Treatment and Rehabilitation Center for Women; Dr. Joy Adolfo-Bueno, psychologist of Metropsych of Roads and Bridges to Recovery-Cebu; Pastors Rouel Imad, Paul Mongas and Adonis Bequeso of Mandaue National Auxiliary Chaplaincy Philippines; Yogi Filemon Ruiz, Regional Director of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency; and Prof. Ronald Galindo.
Dr. Zaldarriaga said they designed programs for outpatients since their rehabilitation center could not accommodate all the surrenderers.
“Ang major problem nato karon is unsaon nato pagpangita og tawo nga mo-atiman sa atong mga pasyente (Our problem now is where to find personnel who will attend to our patients),” Zaldarriaga said.
The community-based treatment will run for four months, and it will provide medical services to those suffering from substance use disorders and psychological services to those with psychotic disorders.
Zaldarriaga suggested that patients undergo mandatory drug testing during the first two months of the program. It is during this period when patients have intense cravings for drugs, he said.
In the outpatient program, Zaldarriaga said they have prepared a manual with 92 topics, including family and personal and social problems.
Patients who recovered after the four-month rehabilitation program would be referred to the Department of Labor and Employment, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and the Commission on Higher Education for possible employment, livelihood training and schooling, respectively.
“After their rehab, we would recommend random drug testing for 18 months to be done in the barangay,” Zaldarriaga said.
Dr. Bueno of Metropsych, a private rehabilitation center in Mandaue, said they were willing to share their services with the city. “In the center, we have good programs for drug addicts. We could offer our expertise if the city would come up with a program for the surrenderers,” he said.
Fortuna said they would start discussing on Monday the program presented by the speakers.
“We would be discussing on how to prepare the city for the program. We will also discuss with the City Health Office to find out our available resources like the number of nurses,” Fortuna said in a phone interview.
Dr. Galindo, professor of the Mechanical Engineering Department of the University of San Carlos, also presented the livelihood trainings that they could offer to the surrenderers, such as welding and fabrication, plumbing works, basic electrical wiring, soap and liquid detergent and candle-making, window-type aircon and refrigator cleaning and waste recycling.
Director Ruiz said they were now focusing on high-profile drug personalities. Pastors of Nacphil said they could also provide spiritual trainings for the surrenderers.