MORE and more self-confessed drug personalities are turning themselves in all over the province. But the question is, where will they go?
Without adequate facilities for rehabilitation, the Cebu provincial government has expressed concern on how to deal with the drug pushers and users who have come out and pledged to stop their illegal doings.
“We don’t really have a big facility where they can be placed. That’s the problem. We only have one in Argao. And then the CPDRC (Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center) is already very full, if charges will be filed against them,” Gov. Hilario Davide III said in a press conference yesterday.
For now, because the drug personalities have pledged and committed to change their ways, Davide said they can just go back to their homes and their communities.
He also urged local government officials in the province to look for ways to help them become productive individuals like offering them alternative livelihood among others.
Next week, Davide said he will call a meeting with the Cebu Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Commission (CPADAC) to brainstorm on ways to address this concern.
“One problem for them is livelihood, because they will lose their livelihood after surrendering. The challenge there is how to make them productive through an alternative livelihood. That’s what we will study,” he said.
Police officials have recorded over 1,000 self-confessed drug personalities all over Central Visayas, who have already surrendered since July 1.
Last Tuesday, Davide said he was able to talk with Naga City Mayor Kristine Chiong, who also expressed concern over the drug personalities who surrendered before her office. One of their solutions, according to Davide, is to engage the private sector in helping them.
“I agree, we also need the help of the private sector. The problem on illegal drugs is not just the concern of the local government or a particular sector of the community. Everybody should be involved, so we have to help each other,” he said.
Davide also said he will take up these concerns during the Cebu Provincial Peace and Order Council meeting later this month. He said he will also check with the mayors in the province as to which area s are also experiencing a string of drug personalities surrendering and how to address them.