The Municipality of Santol, La Union inked with DSWD FO 1 to adopt DSWD Yakap Bayan Framework making them the first to do so in the Region.
“Noong pumutok itong sinabi ni President Duterte na war on drugs ay hindi namin alam kung ano ang kahihinatnan, ngunit mabuti na lang at may ibinabang Yakap Bayan Program ang DSWD. Kaya dito sa Santol, La Union ay lubos naming tinanggap ang programa upang matulungan ang ating mga kababayang nalihis ang buhay. Hindi lamang po ang ating Katipuneros (pertaining to drug surrenderers) ang natulungan, kundi pati na rin ang kanilang pamilya kaya lubos po ang aming pasasalamat (When President Duterte declared a war on drugs, we did not know the consequences, but fortunately, the DSWD rolled-out the Yakap Bayan Program. In Santol, La Union, we fully accepted the program to help the citizens who lost their way. Not only our Katipuneros (pertaining to drug surrenderers) were helped but also their families, so we are very grateful),” shared LGU Santol Mayor Magno Wailan.
“Noon, kapag na-involve ka sa droga ay iba ang paningin, para kang may sakit na nakakahawa pero hindi ganoon ang pagtingin ng DSWD kaya nabuo ang programang ito ng gobyerno. Kaya po ngayon ay buong puso kaming nagpapasalamat sa pamunuan ng LGU Santol, Sangguniang Bayan, at kay MSWDO sa pagtanggap po ninyo sa Yakap Bayan (Back then, when one is involved in drugs, people perceived you differently, as if you have a contagious disease. But DSWD has a different view that is why this program was created. Today, we wholeheartedly thank the leadership of LGU Santol, Sangguniang Bayan, and MSWDO for accepting the Yakap Bayan),” said DSWD Field Office 1 Regional Director Marcelo Nicomedes J. Castillo.
There were 100 Katupuneros in Santol, La Union who have undergone community-based rehabilitation through Yakap Bayan Framework. The Yakap Bayan Framework aims to harmonize all existing government programs, projects, and activities to provide a concrete and sustainable system of rehabilitation and continuum of care for former drug users and support measures for the strengthening of families and communities. It ensures that culture is integrated into solutions and utilizes available resources and programs in the locality. DSWD continues to encourage all LGUs of the region to adopt the Yakap Bayan Framework in providing interventions to drug surrenderers and assist them to transform from being liabilities into assets –– from surrenderers into productive citizens and community leaders. #By: Nicole Kasandra A. Lipawen, Social Marketing Unit
