Monday | Oct. 23, 2017 | 9:00 AM

SAN Antonio, Nueva Ecija – From being a former drug user, 19-year-old Jayme (not his real name) is now a volunteer in a drug rehabilitation center here, helping other drug dependents to recover from their destructive habits.

Jayme used to work in a corn field. The long hours of labor forced him to take illegal drugs. “Pakiramdam ko magaan, masigla, matalas at laging gising. Nagagawa kong hindi kumain. Puro trabaho lang. Ganun ang epekto sa akin,” he shared.

He used prohibited drugs for almost five months until the government’s crackdown on illegal drug abuse was implemented. Out of fear, he surrendered to the authorities and joined the Bukas-Palad (Bayang may Ugnayan at Kalinga sa Pamilya, Laban sa Droga) combat program.

The community-based treatment program is being implemented by Ako ang Saklay, Inc. at the Saklay Center in San Antonio, Nueva Ecija. Since the program started in October 2016, the non-government organization (NGO) reached out to more than 500 illegal drug dependents from different communities in the province, including Jayme.

“Maraming nagbago pagka-tapos ko dito. At dahil gusto ko po na magtuloy-tuloy ang pagbabago, nag-volunteer ako. Dati ako yung tinutulungan ng volunteers kung paano iwasan ang droga. Ngayon, ako na ang nagsasalita at nagbabahagi sa mga na-biktima ng droga,” Jayme expressed.

Ako ang Saklay, Inc. mainly depends on the support of various agencies to fund its Bukas-Palad program. Recently, the organization received much-needed help when the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) allocated P1.2 million to help fund the rehabilitation of surrendered drug dependents in the Saklay Center.

According to Chairman and CEO Andrea D. Domingo, PAGCOR fully supports the government’s anti-illegal drugs campaign. “One way of showing such support is the provision of financial aid to organizations that share the government’s vision to rehabilitate surrendered drug dependents,” she said.

Domingo added that by supporting drug rehabilitation programs “PAGCOR will be instrumental in helping drug dependents go back to their normal lives and become productive citizens,” Domingo said.

Meanwhile, Fr. Arnold Abelardo, Founder and Director of Ako ang Saklay, Inc. said the financial aid from PAGCOR will greatly help the center in its operational expenses including utility bills and food for stay-in drug reformists and volunteers.

“Drug dependents under our program stay in the center for at least 30 to 45 days to undergo rehabilitation, intervention and skills training like candle making, baking, sewing, carpentry, among others. Syempre may mga gastusin tayong dapat punan kasama na yung pagkain nila sa araw-araw,” he said.

Currently, 27 drug reformists are staying in the center. Those who have been successfully rehabilitated went back to their families but are still undergoing aftercare program or constant monitoring and visitation by center volunteers.

Abelardo cited that in Nueva Ecija alone, almost 30,000 of the 1.9 million population are drug dependents. “These people have their reasons why they took illegal substance. Kalimitan yun tinatawag natin na experimental o nasubukan dahil sa barkada. Meron namang ilan na nag-bahagi na yung drugs ay ginamit as instrumental. Ibig sabihin, nakatulong sa trabaho nila. Kaya nilang magpuyat at mag-trabaho magdamag. Kaya mahalaga na may center silang mapupuntahan pag kailangan nila ng tulong,” he shared.

With PAGCOR’s help, Abelardo explained that drug reformists will be given the opportunity to change their lives. “Malaki ang pasasalamat namin na may tumutulong na mga ahensya tulad ng PAGCOR para matugunan ang mga pangangailangan ng mga reformist at naniniwala sa makabuluhang community-based treatment program tulad ng Bukas-Palad,” he expressed.

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