DAVAO ORIENTAL— The Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council (PADAC) of the province of Davao Oriental continues to beef up its efforts in achieving a drug-free province.

During the recent PADAC Meeting held jointly with the Peace and Order Council and Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council on June 17 at the Honey’s Hotel, PADAC Action Officer Art Benjie Bulaong said in his report that they are in continuous coordination with the ADACs in the City and Barangay level to clear the six barangays in the City of Mati from drugs. These barangays are Central, Dahican, Macambol, Matiao, Mayo, and Sainz.

He said that while the challenge in clearing these barangays is due to their being with highly populated areas, the PADAC is positive to finally put an end to the drug menace in these areas after successfully clearing the other 73 drug affected barangays as per Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) watchlist, making all ten Municipalities in the province cleared from drugs.

“We are still doing our best with the help of the local government of the City of Mati. In fact, by next month, the City of Mati will be declaring another one barangay cleared from drugs,” he said.

The province’s effort in rehabilitating drug personalities is also being given prime importance, Bulaong said. The Balay Silangan Reformation Center, which was launched last year, has already 26 enrollees for outpatient treatment. Bulaong said the soft opening for Balay Silangan will be held next week, “but will only cater the Outpatient treatment clients”.

“As being discussed during the March 2019 Regular Monthly meeting the Provincial Government and Municipal LGU where the client resides will subsidize the payment of the clients due to financial problems being experienced by them,” he said.

Bulaong said that the Community-based Rehabilitation and Aftercare Program (CBRAP) in the different LGUs continues to cater to 3,606 surrendered drug personalities. He said that the 1,958 graduates, out of 5,564 enrollees, are “still being monitored by the Local Anti-Drug Abuse Council prevent relapse when they are incorporated back to the community.”

He added the NLD-Youth or the New Leaders for Development Youth, another component program of Lihok NLD, is actively engaging with various youth organizations here in helping youth who are predisposed to illegal drug abuse.

“As of the moment the New Leaders for Development (NLD) Youth is an active partner of Sangguniang Kabataan, Youth for Peace Movement Davao Oriental, and other youth organizations in conducting various activities that will strengthen the youth sector and be an advocate of a drug-free Davao Oriental,” Bulaong said. By Riza Golez