Paz Radaza
THE city department of Interior and Local Government, in coordination with the Lapu-Lapu City government, launched the first Masa Masid program in Central Visayas at the Gaisano Mactan convention hall yesterday afternoon.
Masa Masid is an acronym for “Mamamayang Ayaw sa Anomalya, Mamamayan Ayaw sa Iligal na Droga,” a barangay-based anti-criminality, anti-corruption, and anti-illegal drugs program.
The program seeks to heighten community involvement by mobilizing local stakeholders, volunteers, civic organizations, faith-based organizations, and the private sector in the fight against illegal drugs, criminality and corruption.
“We see it very effective in curbing criminality, that is why we give our full support to this campaign; and with the help of the police and other non-government organizations, we created programs to help the surrenderers change their lives as they deserve second chance,” said Mayor Paz Radaza.
She said the city government provided jobs to those interested surrenderers, who were assigned at the Materials Recovery Facility as road channelizer and foot path slab makers, and as gardeners and coastal cleanup workers.
The city also conducted rehabilitation programs for the surrenderers, such as Zumba dance exercise, seminars and Bible study.
Radaza was also proud to announce the creation of the City of Lapu-Lapu Auxillary Force (CLAF) to assist the police in monitoring illegal drug activities in the barangays.
The city also conducted drug tests for all government employees and those found positive were immediately dismissed from service.
Former Lapu-Lapu City councilor and now city administrator Florito Pozon also explained that fighting corruption requires support from the public. “We have hotline numbers, email address, social media sites where you can report or complain any anomalies you think deserves to be addressed,” said Pozon.
Fr. Carmelo Diola, chairman of Dilaab Foundation and member of the Ugnayan ng Barangay at Simbahan (UBAS), was one of the invited speakers.
Diola shared his experience working with fellow UBAS member and Subangdaku, Mandaue Barangay Captain Ernie Manatad who helped drug surrenderers and street children through a regular meeting, seminars
and lectures, boodle fight, Zumba exercise and worship service, among others.
The surrenderers are now the ones conducting home visits to encourage other drug dependents to stop their vices and join with them.