The barangays of Oro are encouraged to continue the drug rehab programs

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WHILE the 80 barangays of the city are asking for more financial assistance and police visibility from the city police, they are also reminded to establish and continue to implement their community-based drug rehabilitation programs (CBDRP).

During the meeting of the City Peace Development and Security Council last Friday afternoon sponsored by the office of the Department of Interior and Local Governments (DILG), the head of the Oro Citizens Wellness and Development Center, Rhyselle Bernadette Melliza-Descallar said that they repeated the a proposed ordinance that provides additional financial assistance to barangays to increase their community-based drug rehab programs.

“There was a resolution urging the barangays to establish their community drug rehab and aftercare programs but with the change in administration, it was urged to strengthen that resolution into an ordinance…in 2019 there was a proposed ordinance which allocates aid to the barangays for their rehabilitation. programs but ran into some issues (at the City Budget Office),” he said.

Descallar said that the City Budget Office said that the proposed P108,000 total assistance to the barangays in the city will be difficult because the situation of each barangay is unique and their needs are different.

“That’s why we will revisit that ordinance and maybe work to improve the process where the barangays can get help from City Hall (to increase their community drug rehab programs),” he said.

In his report to the security council, Descallar said that while 29 barangays have active community-based drug rehab and aftercare programs, about 20 barangays have inactive rehab programs and eight are non-compliant. About 14 barangays were declared drug cleared while nine barangays were not affected, he said.

“They can’t continue their programs (due to financial constraints),” Descallar said.

In response, City Legal Officer Kenneth Tamalla said that the City Peace Development and Security Council passed a resolution that ‘respectfully urges and reminds the barangays of the urgency of establishing their community-based drug rehab programs’ which was approved by acting council chairman and Councilor Romeo Calizo.

Descallar also asked the city police to set up more outposts in the barangays for more visibility.

“The barangays asked the police (for help to increase their efforts to invite more drug users to their rehab programs) but when their requests (were not answered) they responded to their requests to (Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency). So we hope the city police can help the barangays on this,” said Descallar.

On their part, PDEA Provincial Officer Expedito Cardona said that they made house visits based on the request of the barangays to help them in their campaign against drugs.

“We capacitate the barangays including the barangay officials. And the city has spent resources (to fund their rehab and anti-drug campaigns),” said Cardona, adding that the barangays should make more efforts to reciprocate City Hall’s help. (Stephen Capillas of the City Information Office)