Handumanan jail launches drug rehab program for PDLs

By: Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The Metro Bacolod District Jail (MBDJ) male and female dormitories in Barangay Handumanan here launched on Thursday the Katatagan Kontra Droga sa Komunidad (KKDK) which aims to aid the rehabilitation of persons deprived of liberty (PDLs).

Senior Inspector Norberto Miciano Jr., warden of MBDJ male dormitory annex, said yesterday that they are the first jail in Western Visayas to implement the program.

Miciano said the KKDK is a supplemental program of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) for the psychological aspect of PDLs who have pending cases for sale and illegal possession of dangerous drugs.

“The bureau came up with this idea to assist PDLs in their drug rehabilitation because some of them cannot afford to undergo the accredited drug rehabilitation program of the Department of Health (DOH),” he added.

Miciano said 100 male and eight female PDLs applied for plea bargaining agreement which enable them to undergo drug rehabilitation intervention or drug counseling as ordered by the court.

The first session kicked off on August 15, with 12 male and eight female PDL participants

Miciano said the session will be conducted once a week so that PDLs can really focus on their reformation.

Six jail officers who were trained by the Psychological Association of the Philippines served as facilitators for the said program.

“We hope to finish the first 100 in five to six months, but we are planning to have another batch soon pending the approval of the national bureau,” the jail warden said.

He said that the program will also educate the PDLs and their respective families on the effects of illegal drug use. It will also give them positive attitude and healthy lifestyle, he added.

Also present during the launching was Superintendent Gilbert Peremne, assistant regional director for administration of BJMP-6; Inspector Henry Harder, chief regional welfare and development division of BJMP-6; Vice Mayor El Cid Familiaran; and Councilor Al Victor Espino, chairman of the Committee on Police Matters, and Peace and Order of the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP).