The Provincial Government of Davao del Norte will launch Task Force AGR or Task Force Aksyon, Gamutan, Rehabilitasyon (Action, Treatment, Rehabilitation) to provide assistance to thousands of drug surrenderees in the province.
During the recent Kapihan sa Kapitolyo media forum, Provincial Administrator Samson Sanchez publicized the plans of the administration of Governor Anthony G. del Rosario to help the victims of drug abuse. He said that the program would include components that will sustain the recovery of the drug dependents during and after rehabilitation.
“The Task Force AGR is Aksyon Gamutan at Rehabilitasyon . . . composed of many components. Naa diha ang livelihood, naa diha ang sports, naa diha ang disaster management, naa diha ang education, naa diha ang rehabilitation. . . It’s a concept of how we are getting to approach labi na sa atong suporta sa kampanya ni Presidente Duterte batok illegal drugs (The Task Force AGR is Action, Gamutan (Treatment) and Rehabilitation… composed of many components. Including livelihood, sports, disaster management, education, and rehabilitation… It is a concept of how we are going to approach, in support of President Duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs),” Sanchez said.
The official stressed that the Provincial Government's approach in rehabilitating the victims must be clear and precise for it to be effective.
“Kung dili man gud nato maklaro ang intervention sa gobyerno especially in the local level kaning mga kaigsoonan nato nga na-involved sa illegal drugs, basin ug instead nga nag-address ta ug problema, basin ug modako pa hinuon na (If we [the government], especially in the local level do not have a clear intervention towards our brothers who are involved with illegal drugs, we might end up making the problem worse instead of addressing it),” he added.
An executive order has been prepared for the creation of Task Force AGR, where the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer shall be the head of the secretariat.
Sanchez said that the task force would conduct proper profiling of drug surrenderees in order for the government to provide appropriate intervention, depending on the different conditions and extent of drug abuse.
“Kailangan gyod ang profiling . . . Fifteen thousand Dabaonons are involved in these illegal drugs, be it pushing, runner or user. Even sa degree of drug abuse sa substance, atong tan-awon kung tilaw-tilaw ra ba or resulting kanang naa na gyod deperensya. Kung ma-determine nato kung totally or severely dependent on drugs, dali ra kaayo ang atong intervention nga rehabilitation. But if not, asa man gyod na?(Profiling is really needed… Fifteen Thousand Dabaonons are involved in these illegal drugs, be it pushing, runner or user. Even in the degree of the abuse of the substance, we will identify if they just tried or if they already have problems. If we are able to determine if [they are] totally or severely dependent on drugs, the intervention for rehabilitation will be easier. But if not, what should we do? ),” Sanchez reiterated.
Even if the type of profiling has yet to be finalized, Sanchez hoped that they would be able to execute the plan by the end of the year.
The project will be included in the agenda of the next Provincial Drug Abuse Prevention and Rehabilitation Board (PDAPRB) meeting.
