ABOUT 90 Persons with Substance use disorder (PSUDs) who underwent the Integrated Participatory Community Building Program in Baguio City underwent a random drug test last April 19 at the multi-purpose hall here.
After a series of sessions towards the transformation of the PSUDs, they are expected to graduate May 12.
Part of the program is to have the PSUDs is to undergo random drug test to see the progress of their transformation whether they are truly reforming to be better individual.
The City Government here together with the other stakeholders and volunteer religious organizations is extending help to the PSUDs to become a renewed citizen in the community.
Some PSUDs gave testimonies on how they got trapped on illegal drugs and how the program of the City Government helped them as well as their families recover from the dark side of their lives.
Executive assistant Rafael Tallocoy, in his inspirational message, challenged the PSUDs not to go back to the old vices.
“You’ve learned the bad effects of illegal drugs to you physically, mentally, emotionally and psychologically including your families and the people around you, thus, you (PSUDs) are expected to avoid temptation,” Tallocoy said.
“It is important to have discipline. Together with my challenge, the government hopes that, you (PSUDs), having undergone the different sessions, will also help in the campaign against drugs in the city,” he added.
Moreover, city social welfare and development (CSWD) officer Betty Fangasan said that the City Government extended financial assistance to 30 PSUDs of Baguio amounting to P177,000. Said assistance will be used for their livelihood in starting a new chapter of their lives.
An initial of P1 million was deposited to the trust fund of the city that was derived for the rentals collected from the livelihood trade fair at Burnham Park intended for the anti-poverty and reformation of the CSWDO for drug dependents. (PR)