Dagupan to launch S.U.R.E - a drug rehab community based program

DAGUPAN CITY – In support of the national government’s goal to eradicate illegal drugs, the city is coming up with a drug-rehabilitation community-based program for the affected illegal drug user individuals called S.U.R.E. or Sagip User Rehabilitation and Empowerment.

Mayor Belen T. Fernandez disclosed that the program will be an assortment of non-formal education for the incremental development and progress of the affected individuals.

“It is our intention to bring back illegal drug user individuals to their normal life for them to be productive citizens of our country,” said Fernandez.

She pointed out that the program will help the user to stand on their own two feet again and live a more productive life, for them to see that life is worth changing, that life has a purpose and that life is worth saving.

“It’s going to be hard but let’s do it. We will take the opportunity to help and if we can help one user that’s helping the entire family. Hindi forever ang dilim ng buhay,” said Fernandez who hopes to make Dagupan a drug free city within four years.

Fernandez attended the forum "Sulong Pilipinas" with the League of Cities on October 3 and 4 in Manila for a consultation on peace and order and social development.

In line with this, Fernandez has reconstituted the City Anti-Drug Abuse Council (CADAC) since the heads and leaders of different local and national government agencies and different involved organizations were either retired, reassigned, succeeded or transferred as jurisdictionally further specified by each organizational rule.

Fernandez is scheduled to meet the new members of the council on October 7 to address the drug situation in Dagupan with the new Dagupan City Police Station chief Police Superintendent Neil O. Miro as vice-chairman.

Fernandez will also be working with various agencies such as the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and Department of Education (DepEd) for the realization of the program. (Joseph C. Bacani/CIO)