CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—A total of 116 drug surenderees successfully graduated on Tuesday from the one-month reformation program at “Bahay Pagbabago”.
“Bahay Pagbabago” is a recovery and wellness program of the City Police Office, which aims to help drug surrenderees and drug dependents in the city to withdraw and recover from substance abuse through a comprehensive reformation program.
Lieutenant Colonel Paul Gamido, San Fernando chief of police, said the department had a total of 150 enrollees in the reformation center.
“One hundred sixteen itong grumaduate ngayon at yung remaining ay magtatapos naman sa Friday. Itong batch na ito tumagal sila dahil sa pandemic. Supposedly, May dapat sila ga-graduate dahil nag start sila ng March and April. One-month reformation program lang naman ito, kaya lang nagkaroon ng pandemic so na extend sila. Kahit ganito ang nangyari, nagsikap pa rin ang PNP sa tulong ng mga barangay officials at sa tulong ni Mayor [Edwin Santiago] na malaki ang pondo na ginamit sa kanila,” Gamido explained.
Inside the rehabilitation center, surenderees passed through spiritual enhancement, lectures on the ill effects of illegal drugs, livelihood trainings and physical fitness activities.
“Dapat i-take advantage nila yung opportunity na binibigay ng local government, opportunity na makapagbago sila at huwag nang bumalik sa kung ano mang pangit na kinalagyan nila noong involved pa sila sa illegal drugs,” the chief of police added.
Gamido also warned individuals who continue to engage in illegal drugs.
“Yung mga classmates nila o batchmate nila na nagpositibo sa illegal drugs, binibigyan ko sila ng 24 hours para sumuko or else umalis muna sila dito sa City of San Fernando Pampanga. Kung matigas pa rin ang ulo nila, we will be conducting operations against them,” Gamido said.
In June, the regional police office awarded the city police station for its solid efforts against illegal drugs. The police department was able to clear 10 barangays from illegal drugs.
For his part, Mayor Santiago expressed his full support for the complete recovery of the reformists.
“Sana tuloy-tuloy na ang pagbabago at wala ng mag re-lapse pa sa inyo. Basta, kung kailangan ninyo ng tulong at ng suporta, may gobyerno kayo na pwedeng takbuhan, mula sa akin hanggang sa mga barangay officials na laging kumakalinga sa inyo. Tulungan niyo rin kami na kumbinsihin ang iba pang mga kakilala ninyong lulong sa droga na sumuko na sa ating mga kapulisan para mabigyan sila ng pagkakataong makapagbago,” the mayor said.