Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Assistant Secretary for Special Concerns Anton Hernandez congratulates reformed drug surrenderers and their families for completing the six-month rehabilitation program of “Yakap Bayan” during their separate moving up ceremony held at Lucban and Lucena City in Quezon Province.
During the ceremony, the campers from the Yakap Bayan allied to Project United Stand against Dangerous Drugs (USAD) demonstrated disaster response skills such as Basic Fire Fighting and first aid response.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) continues to capacitate former drug dependents into productive community leaders, advocates, and volunteers through the “Yakap Bayan” program, an inter-agency collaborative framework that provides rehabilitation, aftercare, transformation, and reintegration support for recovering drug surrenderers.

Last week, former drug dependents from Quezon Province participated in a moving up ceremony after finishing a six-month rehabilitation program which features various activities such as psychosocial interventions, disaster response training, skills training, detoxification, medical treatment, and leadership training.

“Ang adhikain ng Yakap Bayan ay mapagdugtung-dugtong natin ang mga programa ng probinsya, ng pulis, ng AFP, ng Bureau of Fire Protection, ng BJMP, ng TESDA, ng DOLE, ng DSWD at ng iba pang mga ahensya (The intention of the Yakap Bayan program is to connect the programs of the province, the police, the AFP, the Bureau of Fire Protection, BJMP, TESDA, DOLE, DSWD and other government agencies),” explained DSWD Assistant Secretary for Special Concerns Anton Hernandez.

A total of 85 campers from the Pagbabago at Pag-asa Reflection Camp (PPRC) in Lucban and 192 Yakap Bayan Project United Stand against Dangerous Drugs (USAD) in Lucena City were given recognition for their dedication and commitment to serve their respective communities and veer away from the dangers of drug addiction.

“This is no longer about rehabilitation. This is about nation building. Kaya kung mapapansin ninyo, ang Yakap Bayan nagfo-focus sa pamilya at sa komunidad (Yakap Bayan focuses on building families and communities),” added Asec. Hernandez.

He also encouraged the campers to help each other and to become productive leaders of their communities.

“Magtulungan kayo na huwag kayong magre-relapse. Magtulungan kayong palakasin ang inyong mga pamilya. Magtulungan kayong maging mas mahusay na mga ama, na mga ina. Palakasin niyo ang mga komunidad ninyo (Help each other to avoid relapse. Help each other to strengthen your families. Assist each other to become good parents and to strengthen your communities),” he said.

The moving up ceremonies were also attended by Presidential Adviser for Southern Tagalog Secretary Dennis Hernandez, Communications Assistant Secretary Ramon Cualoping, Office of the President Assistant Secretary Aurora Ignacio, Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) Deputy Executive Director Walter Besas, Quezon Province Governor David Suarez, Lucban Mayor Olivier Dator, and other local government executives.

Lastly, the DSWD assistant secretary challenged the campers to help in the efforts of the government to build a better nation for all.

“Help us help the nation to weave into reality the dream of a better, more progressive Pearl of the Orient for the next generation,” Asec. Hernandez ended. ###