CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – In the midst of the fight against illegal drugs, Governor Lilia Pineda also wants to focus attention to the families of the drug surrenderers by providing alternative livelihood assistance.
Pineda said the families of the surrenderers should be given ample attention as they are the ones greatly affected in the war against illegal drugs.
“If the children of the surrenderers go to school, give them scholarship program, put them in the Alternative Learning System Program if they are out-of-school youth or if they are high school graduates, let them have trainings in TESDA,” she said.
She also sought the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)’s help in giving livelihood assistance to the partners of the surrenderers.
“If they are not suspects in illegal drugs, pushers or users, they should also be given livelihood assistance so that they can generate income for their daily needs. This is because almost 50% of the 11,000 surrenderers are employed and their families depend on them,” the governor said.
Pineda also said that the local government units (LGUs) need greater funds in the rehabilitation of the surrenderers.
“Our surrenderers now are currently doing Zumba and afterwhich, are fed by the LGU, which needs lots of money to fund,” she said.
Meanwhile, DILG Regional Director Florida Dijan has commended the provincial government for coming up with a comprehensive program for the rehabilitation of the drug surrenderers./PNA