The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office Caraga, through the Sectoral Unit and the Local Government Unit (LGU) of Bislig City, launched the Community-Based Drug Rehabilitation Program and signed the Memorandum of Agreement for the implementation of the Yakap Bayan Program (YBP) —March 19, 2024.

DSWD Caraga Regional Director Mari-Flor Dollaga and Bislig City Mayor Florencio Garay executed the MOA signing.

In her speech, Dir. Dollaga thanked LGU Bislig City for their unwavering commitment to helping RPWUDs recover and facilitating their social reintegration.

“We are not merely affixing our signatures to a piece of paper, but we are reaffirming our commitment to a cause that is fundamental to the health, safety, and future prosperity of our communities. This activity that we are embarking upon today is not just about treating addiction; it’s about restoring hope, dignity, and opportunity to individuals whose grip on substance abuse has ensnared. It’s about giving them the tools, support, and encouragement they need to reclaim their lives and become productive members of society once again,” Dir. Dollaga said.

YBP is a holistic intervention to assist RPWUDs in their recovery journey and to facilitate their social reintegration; it is one of the significant contributions of the DSWD in realizing the goals and objectives of the Philippine Anti-Illegal Drugs Strategy (PADS). It is the country’s primary strategy to combat the use and abuse of illegal drugs, particularly under the Demand Reduction component of the said strategy.