BAGUIO CITY (PIA) — The Inter-agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (ICAD) is encouraging local government units (LGUs) in the Cordillera region to apply for Community-Based Drug Rehabilitation Program (CBDRP) certification.
The CBDRP is a consolidated model of treatment for drug users with moderate risk of drug dependence and/or mild substance use disorder. Individuals who are under the program are provided with care from outreach and low-threshold services through coordination with health, social, and other non-specialist services needed to meet their needs.
Orly T. Primo, Sr. of the Department of Health Cordillera reported during the 3rd Quarter ICAD Advocacy, Rehabilitation and Reintegration Clusters meeting held on August 14 that out of 77 LGUs in the region, three are certified, nine are ongoing certification, while 56 submitted initial-assessment form.
The DOH-CAR has issued an advisory and backed up by memorandum from the Department of the interior and Local Government encouraging the LGUs to facilitate self-assessment for the CBDRP certification.
Primo said the LGUs granted CBDRP certification are namely; Bangued in Abra, La Trinidad in Benguet, and Kabugao in Apayao. Those undergoing certification as of August 9, 2024 include Baguio City, Buguias in Benguet, Dolores in Abra, Alfonso Lista and Lamut in Ifugao, Conner, Flora, and Luna in Apayao, and Tabuk City.
For the 56 LGUs that submitted for initial assessment, 13 are eligible, 16 not eligible, and 27 unknown. Primary reasons for non-eligibility include lack of trained staff on Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT), and no memorandum of agreement with a Treatment and Rehabilitation Center.
For the unknown, the main reason is that the LGU did not send self-assessment form to DOH or DILG or incomplete or unclear answer on the assessment tool.
In the meeting presided by DILG-CAR Assistant Regional Director Ruperto B. Maribbay Jr, the ICAD members agreed that the DILG will issue a memorandum encouraging LGUs that did not submit self-assessment forms to apply for CBDRP certification.
Dr. Virginia Narciso of DOH-CAR emphasized that the major requirement for CBDRP certification is the presence of a municipal health officer who is trained on Drug Dependency Examination.
Other issues discussed include Barangay Drug Affectation, the Philippine Anti-Illegal Drug Strategy, the Drug-Free Workplace Policy and Program, as well as other initiatives such as information campaigns and capacity development efforts to combat illegal drugs in the region. (JDP/MAWC-PIA CAR)
