“Para sa mga persons who used drugs (PWUDs), itigil ninyo na po, magpatulong tayo sa gobyerno bilang katuwang sa pagbabago.”
This was the message of Joel (not his real name) from Ifugao Province, a recovering person who used drugs (RPWUD), who was successfully reintegrated to his family and community through the Yakap Bayan Program (YBP).
Championed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the YBP is a holistic intervention to assist RPWUDs in their recovery journey from surrendering to aftercare, and social reintegration to their families and communities through the combined effort of government and civil society organizations. It entails the provision of aftercare services, such as relapse prevention sessions, counselling sessions, health and fitness therapy, spiritual interventions, and skills training, among others, to improve the well-being and social functioning of RPWUDs.
False belief in illegal drugs’ positive use
Joel started using drugs when he worked as a computer technician, where long hours of work would mean more computers to repair. He wanted to stay awake for longer hours and asked around for assistance.
“Nasabi po ng pinsan ko na [ito ay] pang-gising daw at pampalakas kaya sinubukan ko po ang shabu. Noong sinubukan ko, hindi naman ako pinatulog, hanggang sa nagtuloy-tuloy na po ang paggamit ko” (My cousin told me that there is a drug which can keep me awake and strong so I tried it, Shabu. When I tried it, true enough, it kept me awake and I became addicted), Joel shared.
His wife Julia (not her real name) was a witness to how Joel’s behavior changed.
“Everytime po na gumagamit siya, magagalitin na siya, medyo bayolente at kung minsan ay nananakit pa“ (Everytime he used the illegal drug, he got mad easily, and was even violent, at times), Julia recalled.
From zero to Yakap Bayan Program
Joel wanted to earn more so he tried illegal drugs. But the more he used drugs, the more he lost money.
“Noong walang-wala na ako, parang gusto ko na mamatay dahil parang wala na talaga akong silbi. Gusto ko nang tanggalin ang bisyo sa sarili ko pero hindi ko alam kung paano. Sa huli’t huli ay Diyos ang nasandalan ko at humingi ako ng tulong” (When I lost my finances, I wanted to die since I felt useless. I wanted to stop taking illegal drugs but I did not know how. In the end, I prayed hard and asked for help), Joel recounted.
“It was also a blessing that the government has a program which gave RPWUDs like me a chance to change,” he added.
After committing himself to the rehabilitation program under the Ifugao Rehabilitation Camp (IRC), Joel was immediately provided with various interventions from the different national government agencies and the local government unit under the YBP to help him be reintegrated with his family and community.
Julia said that when Joel received the interventions under the YBP, in accordance to his needs, she noticed positive changes and developments in his behavior. To help Joel stay away from illegal drugs, Marlene encouraged him to join them in attending mass every Sunday and other community activities.
A productive member of the community
Presently, Joel is active in various fund raising activities which is his way of giving back to the community which welcomed him after his fall. He said that one of the lessons he learned was to partake in community activities.
Furthermore, with the help that he received, he also developed a heart to help others.
Barangay Captain Billy Gonsadan of Barangay Alfonso Lista, Ifugao said that programs like the YBP is indeed significant as it helps direct wayward individuals to the right path. It is also a way for the government to show its sincerity to help those who are in need by providing hope and right interventions.
Seeing that he has transformed his life, Joel is now an inspiration to a lot of his friends.
Joel conveys this message to those struggling to give up using illegal drugs, “I assure you, maganda ang kinabukasan mo kapag ikaw ay nagbago (I assure you, you have a better future if you change).
Joel’s story is just one of the many stories of transformation and second chances. DSWD Secretary Rolando Joselito Bautista stressed, “Sa pamamagitan ng Yakap Bayan Program, ang mga RPWUDs ay tinutulungan ng DSWD, iba pang ahensiya, lokal na pamahalaan, at mga miyembro ng civil society na muling maging produktibong miyembro ng komunidad, at matulungan na ma-reintegrate sa kanilang pamilya at komunidad. Dahil ang mga RPWUDs ay biktima rin ng epekto ng illegal na droga, (Through the Yakap Bayan Program, the RPWUDS are assisted by the Department, other agencies, the LGUs, and civil society to be reintegrated to their families and communities and become productive members of the society. This is because the RWPUDs are also victims to the pitfalls of illegal drugs use).
The Secretary further reiterated the need for all sectors in the society to work together against illegal drugs, saying “sama-sama nating isulong ang pagprotekta sa ating pamilya at komunidad, upang isang araw ay makamit natin ang isang bansang malaya sa illegal na droga (let’s work together in protecting our families and communities against illegal drugs, so that one day, we will be able to live in a country free from illegal drugs).”
