2019
This is an Entry to the Government Best Practice Recognition Awards
Title
MOMIDIN Reformation Center (Mamamayan Oras na para Makiisa Illegal na Droga itigil na)
Organization
Municipal Government of Pullian
Best practice Focus Area(s)
Leadership, Strategic planning and deployment, Customer and citizen focus
Summary
In line with the Administrative Order 2017-2018, MOMIDIN Reformation Center was established and further enhanced by the Municipal Health Office (MHO) in response to the unprecedented influx of users who surrendered under the Municipality of Pullilan’s Anti-Drug campaign. However, it Is also worth noting that its operation started last 2016 even before the administrative order had been issued by the Department of Health, which was cascaded to the local government bodies. Despite being aligned with the country’s anti-drug campaign, MOMIDIN Reformation Center has its own strategies implemented and services provided to the surrendered patients or reformists.
Background and Problem
The primary objective of this practice is to initiate a connection with the reformists and have them undergo rehabilitation through seminars, spiritual interventions, livelihood training programs, and other activities that involve their relatives. The activities are provided to enable them to return as active and productive members of the community. Another goal is to erase the stigma that surrounds them and help uplift their morale by giving encouragements, gaining support from fellow reformists, and eventually, earning acceptance from the community. Going through these experiences, they are given a second chance at life after the rehabilitation.
At the start of the program, various challenges were met such as gaining support from other organizations and agencies, indefinite list of activities, and earning acceptance. All these were addressed by continuously pushing forward the idea to help the reformists leap their future. As results have shown, inter-agency coordination was established
Solution and Impact
In every solution there was an issue identified. In the case of this practice, it was the increasing number of surrendered patients in the municipality when there was no accurate strategy yet at the time. However, under the new Presidential administration and local body administration, this was settled first by reorganizing the council intended to address the issue in Drug Abuse, which is the Municipal Anti-Drug Abuse Council (MADAC).
The first step was recognized during MADAC meetings. Together, with the Municipal Peace and Order Council (MPOC) and the municipal government formulated and strategized ways of implementing an anti-drug campaign by considering the surrendered patients sans jumping to immediate results. MOMIDIN Reformation Center was created under the guidance of Municipal Mayor Marra Rosario Ochoa-Montejo with the help of the MHO. It began its move on how to effectively help the reformists. As a result, the trust between the LGU and the reformists gradually improved as well as the trust of the community. Since the LGU is very transparent with its implementations, a deeper understanding of the community was formed.
One of the results that immediately manifested from the rehabilitation is the peace of mind the reformists get once they are back into the community. Another is employment opportunity. Through the efforts of the facilitating organization, they managed to coordinate with other agencies to hold livelihood and technical trainings. Some of them were able to create home-made products for selling, while the technical training enabled some to earn jobs in the companies. In the long run, the reformists eventually earned acceptance. Misunderstandings are settled between them and their fellow citizens with the help of MHO who continue to reach out to the barangays, and holding seminars about drug abuse.
Milestones
Since MADAC was created, Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BADAC) was also introduced to more barangays. A community-based treatment and rehabilitation program for persons who use drugs in primary health care settings was established. This consisted of a watch fist from the barangay captain and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). Every time the watch 11th from PDEA is reduced to zero, they will check the barangay. Once confirmed that it is drug-cleared, a barangay will be awarded the certificate of Drug Cleared Barangay. As of this writing, 3 barangays are reportedly cleared and awarded.