By LITO RULONA, Correspondent City Councilor Teodulfo Lao Jr. is now asking the city government to appropriate and prioritize funds for the construction of the city drug rehabilitation program to respond to the needs of barangays. “It has all become their own initiative now at the barangay level. They even give one kilo of rice per session and viand to those interested individual who will avail the program a barangay-based rehabilitation program per day. Other goods were also included during the activity. The donors of the goods were business sector within their barangay because they were impressed by the initiated of Barangay 26 officials,” Lao said. He said he was impressed when he listened to the program of the graduation of the first batch of drug personalities as they pledged not to use illegal drugs again. At least 41 drug personalities finished the barangay-based rehabilitation program. “It is now high-time for the city government to give a counterpart of the program by providing major programs like establishing a rehabilitation center. It should be part of the 2017 budget,” he added. Lao’s pronouncement came after City Councilor Lordan Suan, chair of the City Council committee on ethics and blue ribbon, on Monday congratulated the graduates of the first community-based drug rehabilitation program initiated by the Barangay Council of Barangay No. 26, this City. Suan said the barangay council had conducted the program on their own initiative even without any support yet from city hall. Suan said the program lasts for 90 days, which was administered by the CDO Pathway to Recovery Chemical Dependency and Rehabilitation Center. He said the patients cannot afford the services of a private rehabilitation facility but still undergo the same program as the private patients. “Tinud-anay kini nga rehab ilang giundergo ug gitiwas. Ako mismo nakakita sa ilang gipangbuhat atong adlawa..seryoso sila sa ilang gabuhaton,” he said.