Under Kidapawan rehab program, druggies now live normal, happy lives

KIDAPAWAN CITY
— A post-drug dependent program of the local government here has tremendously
changed the lives of drug personalities who voluntarily yielded last year,
admitted drug addiction and subjected to rehabilitation.

Under the Balik
Pangarap Program, 1,082 former drug personalities are now living normal lives
with their loved ones in various communities of Kidapawan City’s 40 villages,
Joel Aguirre, program coordinator and former drug dependent, said of the programa
launched in August last year.

They are now
transformed individuals. They are now busy working in the farm to sustained the
needs of their respective families, Aguirre said.

Called as Recovering
Drug Dependents (RDDs), Aguirre said they are now working as rubber tappers or
caretakers of rubber plantations.

Others are
working at the Kidapawan City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) food
for work program who were randomly picked up and given a daily compensation of
P230 for a 10-day work that include cleaning of drainage canals and river
banks.

Aguirre said these
former drug personalities are being closely watched to ensure they will not
revert back to their old ways.

A tracking
team was formed to monitor the activities of RDDs while under the city’s rehabilitation
program.

Mayor Joseph
Evangelista believed those who chose the right way must be closely watch,
monitored to sustain the noble motive of Balik Pangarap program.

He offered a
five hectare relocation site in Barangay Sudapen as Gulayan project site to
provide RDDs with permanent source of income.

Land
preparations are underway in the relocation site, including putting up of
shanties that will house gardeners.

They have
nothing to worry about the vegetable seeds, our city agriculture will provide
them various seeds. If they are worry because the site is far from their
residence, we have dump trucks that will ferry them to and from their houses, Evangelista
said.

Mayor
Evangelista said the road towards success of the campaign against illegal drugs
in Kidapawan City is very tough since there are some RDD’s who doubted the
program.

He said some
RDDs fear they might be silenced by their former comrades who are still
active in illegal drug activities for naming them before authorities.

Evangelista
assured them of their safety provided they will do away with illegal activities
for good and sustain programs under Balik Pangarap program.

I even gave
them my personal number and instructed them to call me anytime in case they are
threatened, the mayor said.

The city government
also tapped the expertise of Narcotics Anonymous, a psychology department of
Kidapawan Doctors’ College and Neuro-psychiatrists for further monitoring and
intervention of RDDs.

The same
office will declare and issue certification that the patient has fully
recovered and reformed, he said.

A baller
marked with Balik Pangarap Survivor ako is given to every RDD who
successfully finished the six-month therapy. About 300 of them have been
declared to have been successfully recovered and reformed.

A five-day sports
event dubbed Pagbag-Olympics gathered the RDDS while every Thursdays they
gathered at the city plaza for zumba sessions.

Aguirre said
some members of Kidapawan City police officers, who in the past were hunting
drug personalities, are now dancing Zumba with the hunted.

To complete
the rehabilitation, RDDs were given spiritual intervention through Parish
Renewal Experiences (PREX) of Kidapawan diocese.

Fr. Desederio
Balatero of Kidapawan diocese said the RDDs, as lost sheeps, they have all
the opportunity to reform and deepen their faith.

Sukarno
Bagundang, 31 years old, self-confessed illegal drug pusher for seven years,
was among the surrenderees who survived the 6-month rehab program.

The first two
months was a struggle, Bagundang said in Filipino of his journey. But as
months go by, things became easy and I love it.

He admitted
that during the entire time he was hooked to drugs, life was full of threats
and dangers, highlighted by his daring escape by leaping off Nuangan river while
fleeing police anti-drug operation in his home.

Shabu comes
with easy money, he said in Filipino. Yet I have no peace of mind. Fears of
getting arrested always hound me, Bagundang recalled.

Though the
stigma is there, but thanks because with the help of the Balik Pangarap program,
my neighbors now start to trust me once again and accepted me in our
community, Bagundang, a Maguindanaon, said.

Roel Dumanig,
41, a drug user for 15 years, have the same story, that is always running away
from the law.

Thank you,
Balik Pangarap na talaga ako. Thank you mayor Evangelista for giving us chance
to live normal lives in our respective communities, Dumanig said in vernacular.

Supt Leo
Ajero, Kidapawan City police director, since the intensified police anti-drug
campaign late last year, only one drug personality was killed after he violently
resisted arrest.

Arrested
during anti-drug operation led to the arrest of drug personalities who are not
city residents, he added.

Come August 8,
RDDs will gather to commemorate the first year anniversary of Balik Pangarap program,
their gateway to better lives. (Williamor A. Magbanua)