The city of Mati LGU has spent roughly P5 million for the rehabilitation of persons who use drugs (PWUDs) since 2019 during the first term of Mayor Michelle Nakpil Rabat.
This was the estimate made by Mati City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (CADAC) focal person Jose Moring during last week’s 2nd quarterly meeting of CADAC along with the City Peace and Order Council.
In his report, Moring said that since 2016 to present, 458 drug pushers have been apprehended. Of this, 177 have been admitted to Balay Silangan rehabilitation center with the City of Mati LGU paying for their rehabilitation since 2019 to present amounting to P5.5 million.
Based on the CADAC data, there are 814 drug users that graduated from CBDRAP and will be enrolled to Yakap Bayan Program.
At present, 166 PWUDs have already been enrolled to the Yakap Bayan Program with the Department of Social Welfare and Development pledging P100,000 assistance for the 166 PWUDs.
There are 153 remaining persons who use drugs (PWUDs) who will be enrolled to CBDRAP.
The City of Mati has two remaining barangays that are considered as “drug-affected” by the authorities.
Of the 26 barangays, Central and Dahican are the two remaining barangays that have not yet been declared as drug-cleared.
PDEA Davao Oriental officer Eleazar Arapoc meanwhile said that the PDEA is also doing its best, in coordination with the Mati PNP and Mati City LGU, to clear barangays Central and Dahican of illegal drugs.
He admitted that considering that the two barangays are the center of commerce in the city, the demand for illegal drugs is also high since people in these two barangays have the capability to buy them.
Arapoc however said that nothing is impossible with the help of everyone. He suggested to strengthen the implementation of drug-free workplace policy program in the local government as well as implementing sustainability program for drug-cleared barangays. (CIO MATI)
