RIZAL, Kalinga — Drug surrenderers here are now anti drug advocates in their municipality through sports.
In the on-going basketball fest, some 60 former ‘users’ under the teams ‘Duterte’, ‘Bato’, ‘Delima’ and ‘Trillanes’ rally the youth never to engage in the use of illegal drugs especially shabu.
Having realized the ill-effects, Raymond Padilla, president of Rizal Drug Surrenderers, confessed how his life has regained value and worth when he stopped using shabu.
‘Now I saw life has a brighter future and clearer purpose away from drugs and I thank the government for its concern and care for victims like us’, Padilla said.
Municipal Local Government Operations Officer Beth Lorenzo explained government is bent to solve the drug menace through community-based programs of Barangay Anti Drug Abuse Council (BADAC) and Mamamayang Ayaw sa Anomalya, Mamamayang Ayaw sa Illegal na Droga (MASAMASID). These programs are designed to involve community people in the fight against drugs and for the transformation of victims of illegal drugs.
Vice Mayor Samuel Valdez urged the drug surrenderers and the youth in the town to get involved in government programs for the youth sector to be involved in community building.
Remember that government aims to convert your sector, including the out-of-school, become productive members of the community through skills training and scholarship, Valdez said.
“In drugs, one is always a loser so do not destroy your life with it for there are better promises that await everyone who rid their lives of vices,” he said. **PIA Kalinga
