TABUK CITY, Kalinga – The Department of Social Welfare and Development-Cordillera represented by Regional Director Arnel Garcia and the Kalinga provincial government represented by Gov. Ferdinand Tubban signed a memorandum of agreement for the implementation of the Yakap Bayan Program.
Yakap Bayan is a holistic intervention developed by DSWD for LGUs to assist recovering persons and children who used drugs (RPWUD) in their recovery journey and to facilitate their social reintegration.
It aims to converge readily available resources from the national government agencies, civil society organizations, and faith-based organizations to provide the needs of RPWUDs including but not limited to medical, psychological, livelihood, and spiritual services; integrate the indigenous culture in providing services to RPWUDs; and capacitate LGUs to synchronize other community programs like disaster preparedness in drug rehabilitation and aftercare program.
Under the MOA, the DSWD-Cordillera will provide possible technical assistance and resources augmentation to LGUs, and allocate funds in support to program implementation.
The provincial government, on the other hand, will pass a resolution in support to the implementation and sustainability of the program through integration of the Yakap Program to the LGU annual investment plan and to allocate counterpart funds for its institutionalization.
Garcia, in his message delivered by Assistant Regional Director for Operations Amelyn Cabrera, said, “Nalihis man sila ng landas, sa kanilang pagbabalik at pagbabago, atin silang yakapin at tulungang magbago. Ilapit ang pamahalaan sa kanila sa abot ng ating makakaya.”
Tubban said the program complements the provincial LGU’s Moral Recovery program. – Peter A. Balocnit
