FOR the second time, Biñan City was recently included among local governments in the province of Laguna which were given a "Special Award" by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) for efforts in keeping the city "drug-free" at the community level.
How did the Biñan City local government achieve this, given that some barangays were notorious in the past for being “drug havens”?
The secret, City Community Affairs Office (CCAO) head Ronaldo Roscain said, is giving the city’s youth adequate employment and skills.
“Laging kabuhayan ang sinasabing problema ng mga napupunta sa iligal na droga,” Roscain said in an interview with OpinYon Laguna.
“So kung iyon ang problema, iyon din dapat ang maging solusyon.”
As head of the CCAO, Roscain is the “focal person” of the Biñan City Community Anti-Drug Abuse Council (CADAC), which supervises all activities and programs of the city government to solve the problem of illegal drugs.
"Ang CCAO ang nag-uugnay mula doon sa mga barangay hanggang punta sa Mayor's office, para ang mga programa ng CADAC ay makatugma sa lahat ng barangay," he explained.
Roscain also said the current Covid-19 pandemic did not prevent the CADAC from fulfilling its tasks of ensuring that the city remains "drug-free."
"Dahil sa sipag ng ating hepe ng pulisya, si P/Col. Giovanni Martinez, ay na-maintain natin ang pagiging ‘drug-free' ng lungsod natin," he noted.
Employment Programs
One of the biggest challenges the CADAC faced, he related, is giving "new life" to former drug addicts and ensuring that they stay away from illegal drugs.
"Nag-invite kami ng iba't ibang mga ahensya ng gobyerno gaya ng TESDA (Technical Education and Skills Development Authority), PESO (Public Empolyment Service Office), at GAD (Gender and Development Office) para habang ini-encourage natin silang magbagong-buhay, tuluy-tuloy ang kanilang training,” he explained.
“Eventually, pag sila ay na-train na, ang ending niyan ay employment. So pumapasok diyan ang PESO, para mabigyan sila ng angkop na trabaho.”
The CADAC has also proposed to City Mayor Arman Dimaguila, Jr. to encourage local contractors to hire rehabilitated drug dependents who had already undergone training.
“Iyon ang magiging ambag ng mga contractor sa ating programa,” he added.
Boosting morale
From the results of the city’s programs, Roscain said the biggest morale booster – and the biggest enticement for the city’s youth to stay away from illegal drugs – is to give them adequate employment.
“Sa ating pag-iinterbyu sa kanila [former drug dependents], kapag tinatanong natin sila kung bakit sila nalulong sa droga, sasabihin nila, wala silang hanapbuhay, kaya sila napilitang pumasok sa iligal na gawain,” he pointed out.