Press Release
October 21, 2016

Villar leads opening of rehab program for drug surrenderees

A training program aimed at making productive citizens out of former drug abusers was launched Friday in Las Pinas City under the sponsorship of Sen. Cynthia A. Villar.

Villar, in partnership with various government agencies led by the Philippine National Police (PNP), welcomed drug surrenderees from Las Pinas City to the Villar SIPAG farm school during the launching of the 'SAGIP BUKAS: A Drug Rehabilitation Training Program for a Better Life.'

'SAGIP BUKAS' is a 12-week drug rehabilitation training program that will provide free trainings on agri farming and health and wellness, and lectures on ethico legal aspects of substance abuse.

Program participants will likewise do coastal clean-up and mangrove planting with environment advocates like Villar and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR). They will likewise do physical training and will learn to dance Zumba

"Everyone deserves a better, more productive tomorrow. We must never get tired of helping our fellowmen in becoming more useful citizens. I will always be supportive of any and all undertakings that will help our less privileged kababayans ," Villar said.

Villar also said: "We must help these drug surrenderees in their desires to live normal lives again. Let us help them find alternative sources of livelihood, like agri-farming, so that their stigma of being illegal drug users is disabused."

The rehabilitation training program is in line with the government's goal of helping former users of illegal drugs to go back to their normal lives and become productive citizens.

The program is in partnership with Villar SIPAG, PNP, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Agriculture (DA), and the Office of the President (OP).

Other partners include the Allied Botanical Corporation, Las Pinas General Hospital (LPGH), Diocese of Paranaque, Las Pinas City Health Office, and Las Pinas City Mayor's Office.

Participants to the program will be drug users from Las Pinas City who have already surrendered under the Oplan Tokhang initiative of the government. A total of 1700 drug users from Las Pinas have surrendered to the PNP. Out of this number, 135 will join the SAGIP BUKAS training program.

The participants are currently undergoing medical check-ups, like X-rays and urinalysis at the LPGH. After the check-up, they will go through the assessment and screening process to be conducted by the Las Pinas City Health Office and DOH-accredited doctors. All activities are being coordinated and monitored by PNP.

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