Other local government units in North Cotabato are planning to establish their own interventions for surrendering drug users with Kidapawan City’s Balik Pangarap Program as model.
According to the Cotabato Provincial Advisory Council during the recent Anti-illegal Drug Summit other LGUs in the province appreciate the city government’s approach.
The summits was participated by representatives from the academe, civil society, non-government organizations and local government units.
The council noted that Mayor Joseph Evangelista’s initiative is an effective and practical and effective means to fight the illegal drugs menace.
Under the program, the city government helps self-confessed drug users to change into productive and responsible members of the society.
At least 400 recovering drug users are currently enrolled in the Balik Program and undergo weekly fellowship meeting and counseling sessions
Enrolees include men, women as well as members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual sector.
In return for their attendance to these gatherings, the enrolees are given 5 kilograms of rice.
One element of the program that attracted the LGUs to the Balik Pangarap initiative is the participation of Narcotics Anonymous in the program.
Narcotics Anonymous is a group of former drug users who have been successful in changing their lives; they join the program by sharing their experiences and help guide the Balik Pangarap enrolees recover from addiction. (PIA-12)
