Social services body mulls starting a community-based rehab program

By Shiela Mae Butlig,
Correspondent

THE CITY’s ad hoc committee on social services plans on starting a community-based rehabilitation for Oplan Tokhang responders by the end of the month.

City Councilor Reuben Daba told Gold Star Daily, that after authoring a resolution of putting up a rehabilitation center his next move would be to facilitate a community-based rehabilitation by end of September complete with nurses who would facilitate the therapy sessions.

“Ang kaning sa community-based (rehabilitation) i-assess nato. There will be a facilitators. We are also communicating with Tesda para makatabang pud sila. Kung human na ang rehabilitation, ipa Tesda nato. Soon, if ever these (Tokhang responders could) immediately cope up. They (would) be considered rehabilitated. Sila na mismo ang mga tutor sa kapwa nila responders (in the future) after nila ma rehabilitate,” said Daba.

After the rehabilitation, Daba added, the responders would be given a certification which they would use to get police clearance.

“Dili sila pa-isyuhan og police clearance kung manginahanglan sila kung wala sila naka pa rehab sa ilang community,” Daba said.

However, the Tokhang responders who are already worse and who clearly need medical attention would have to be checked in into mental facilities.

Daba promised that in their committee meeting next week, they would be finalizing the budgetary requirements for the proposed community-based rehabilitation program, which would be his basis for a resolution to the council.

Daba is hopeful his resolution would be approved by his peers at the city council.

“All these efforts are for the benefit of the Tokhang responders for them to have a chance to change their lives and to fully forget illegal drugs,” he said.