ILOILO City – A total of 188 drug surrenderees who composed the third batch of the city government’s Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Program clients graduated.
“I would like to congratulate you for your success and may this be the beginning of everything good in your lives,” said Mayor Jose Espinosa III during Tuesday’s graduation ceremony at the Diamond Jubilee Hall (formerly Iloilo Social Hall) on General Luna Street.
A 27-year-old graduate said he hoped to “once again gain the trust of my family and the people around me.”
“When I was still using illegal drugs, they monitored my every move,” said the graduate.
He voluntarily surrendered himself to the police and willingly submitted for rehabilitation.
On Tuesday, he vowed to look for a job and not use illegal drugs again.
“I realized what it did to me and my family,” he said.
He was then a second year Hotel and Restaurant Management student when the vice disrupted his studies.
City Health Officer Dr. Bernard Caspe said the graduates underwent 90 days of rehabilitation.
“They showed good behavior, became well-groomed and passed the weekly random drug tests,” said Caspe.
The city government’s Public Employment Service Office (PESO) conducted a job fair for the graduates.
They were offered jobs (as brand specialists, janitors, forklift operators, cargo handlers, cashiers, service crew, electricians, drivers, baggers, and checkers, among others.
“The city government will always, in any way, help you as long as you also promise the government that you will not go back to illegal drugs. As what I have always said, illegal drugs will do no good in your life, your family, and your community,” Mayor Espinosa told the graduates. (Merianne Grace Ereñeta, Iloilo City PIO/PN)
