CITY OF SAN FERNANDO- Governor Lilia “Nanay” Pineda reiterated yesterday her call to local government units and to national government agencies to prioritize the provision of funds for the rehabilitation, reformation and reintegration of the thousands of self-confessed drug suspects who voluntarily surrendered under the “Dalan ning Pamagbayu” program.
In a forum held at the Kingsborough Convention Center, this city, the governor said they have initially allotted P10 million fund for the anti-illegal drug campaign.
However, she said the fund is not enough to complete the reformation, rehabilitation and reintegration of the 10, 237 self-confessed drug suspect surrenderees.
“We have more than 10,000 users and pushers, what are we going to do with them? For sure there will be more in the following days or weeks,” she stressed.
One of the attendees of the forum is Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Director Myrvi A. Fabia who discussed the guidelines for the fund allocation and utilization of the LGUs in support for the anti-illegal drug campaign.
Third district Board Member Rosve Henson, concurrent chair of the peace and order committee sought the assistance of the LGUs to aid in funding the programs for the rehabilitation of drug users and drug peddlers.
“I hope we are all in this together as it (illegal-drugs) is a big problem in the province. I hope the local officials will be keen in complying with the guidelines of our LGUs to enable us to use the funds immediately and to be guided accordingly,” he said.
With this, National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Director Severino C. Santos presented the possible programs and projects of the concerned line agencies in support to the ‘Dalan ning Pamagbayu’ program.
One of the national government agencies who has committed to give full support to the rehabilitation and reformation program for the drug pushers and drug peddlers in the province is the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
DOLE Region 3 Director Ana C. Dione vowed to continue giving more livelihood programs similar to Special Program for Employment of Students (SPES) and Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged workers (TUPAD).
Commission on Higher Education (ChEd) Region 3 Director Caridad Abuan pledged to grant scholarship to the children of the drug abusers.
More opportunities will be opened for the drug pushers and drug users such as allowing them to help in the clean and green campaign and maintaining the cleanliness of the community to be funded by the Department of Agriculture (DA).
Also, the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) vowed to offer livelihood programs since there are forthcoming projects in the field of construction and assembling for this year.
Governor Pineda is determined to put an end to the proliferation of illegal drugs and give new hope for the drug users and drug peddlers by letting them become productive Kapampangans.
“We really need to work on this. To all of you who are present here, it means you are one with me throughout this campaign. I believe, God will never give us something that we cannot surpass. We can do this,” she said.
