Baguio mayor: Few funds for 1,000 drug surrenderees

By Dexter A. See

BAGUIO CITY  – Mayor Mauricio G. Domogan said the city government has limited funds for livelihood assistance for the rapidly increasing number of drug surrenderees wanting to reform that is why efforts are being done to help them shy away from going back to the illegal drug trade.

It was learned that there are now close to 1,000 drug surrenderees from the city’s 128 barangays with bulk drug pushers.

The local chief executive said drug surrenderees who want to avail of livelihood assistance from the city can submit their project proposals to the City Social Welfare and Development Office which will evaluate feasibility of their proposals before approval of no-interest and non-collateral loan.

“We had proven that the rate of return of our no-interest and non-collateral livelihood loan has been successful and this are available funds which could be used by drug surrenderees interested to avail of livelihood assistance. We want to help our drug surrenderees but what is important is they should be willing to help themselves in order to free them from the drug menance,” Domogan said.

He added personnel of the Baguio City Police Office (BCPO), the CSWDO, and volunteers from non-government organizations advocating against the use of illegal drugs are now working to provide lectures to drug surrenderees to help them go back to normal life and become productive citizens.

According to him, the government’s all-out campaign against illegal drugs also contributed to significant reduction of crimes in the city the weeks.

In terms of hosting a government drug rehabilitation facility, he said the local government is offering the use of a portion of the city-owned 5,000-square meter property in Balenben, Irisan, near the Social Development Center of the CSWDO, as site for rehabilitation center.

However, he said there were four alleged informal settlers whose houses must be demolished so the rehabilitation center site would be built.        

He added the local government is also closely coordinating with the management of the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center for a separate drug rehabilitation center inside the hospital compound.

He urged remaining drug pushers and drug users to voluntarily surrender to authorities to avoid unnecessary violence.