Cordillera Administrative Region-The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) here continues to encourage all local government units (LGUs) of the region to adopt the Yakap Bayan Framework in providing interventions to drug surrenderers. Since 2016, the DSWD is in close coordination with various line agencies and LGUs to ensure that the main thrust of President Rodrigo Duterte to eradicate illegal drugs and illegal-drug related activities is realized.

In 29 November 2016, the DSWD-CAR, as the lead agency for Pillar III, convened the Regional Technical Working Group (RTWG) composed of the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, Commission on Higher Education, Department of Agriculture, Department of Agrarian Reform, Department of Education, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Health, Department of Justice-Parole and Probation Administration, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Labor and Employment, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, National Commission for the Culture and the Arts, Philippine Sports Commission and the Philippine National Police.

After a series of consultation-dialogues to address the illegal drug problem in the region, the Regional Development Council (RDC) and Cordillera Regional Peace and Order Council (CRPOC) approved a resolution urging all local government units in CAR to adopt the Yakap Bayan Framework. The said resolution that was approved on 15 November 2017 was prior recommended by the Regional Social Development Committee (RSDC) chaired by the DSWD.

The Yakap Bayan Framework of intervention is an off-shoot of the Ifugao Reflection Camp which is an indigenous rehabilitation model developed by the Province of Ifugao. It provides part center and part community-based rehabilitation for drug surrenderers. It ensures that culture is integrated into solutions and utilize available resources and programs in the locality. The Yakap Bayan Framework also aims to harmonize all existing government programs, projects, activities to provide a concrete and sustainable system of rehabilitation and continuum of care for former drug users and support measures for the strengthening of families and communities.
Under the Yakap Bayan Framework, drug surrenderers receive various interventions such as medical treatment and rehabilitation, psychosocial interventions, skills training, and leadership training.
The DSWD-CAR has provided assistance worth PhP 1,626,050.00 to 166 drug surrenderers and their families. This is through its Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP). Among the services provided under the SLP is the Community-Based Skills Training on Goat Raising in Kibungan, Benguet, Skills Training on Native Chicken Production cum Construction of Chicken Coop in Sagada, Mt. Province, Cash for Building Livelihood Asset for the Improvement of Sitio Bue to Wala farm to market road in Paracelis, Mt. Province, and livelihood assistance on Bee Keeping in Bontoc, Mt. Province, vegetable farming in Bauko, Mt. Province and hog raising in Danglas, Abra.

Meanwhile, the DSWD-CAR continues the advocacy of the Yakap Bayan Framework through the Technical Assistance Sessions being conducted in various municipalities in the region. As a result, the municipalities of Tuba and Bakun in Benguet and Luna in Apayao had already released a resolution and forged a Memorandum of Agreement with DSWD-CAR to replicate completed social technologies related to the prevention of drug abuse. Among the social technologies to be replicated are the Family Drug Abuse Prevention Program and the putting up of the Special Drug Education Center.

Aside from the Technical Assistance Sessions, the DSWD-CAR through the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program has also conducted a Training on Katatagan Kontra Droga sa Komunidad Program which is a relapse prevention module to 50 LGUs and 77 Municipal Links.

As of 1 April 2019, the DSWD-CAR through the Social Technology Unit and the Social Marketing Unit has conducted 13 Technical Assistance Sessions to M/BADAC members in the municipalities of Tuba, Bakun, Buguias, Tublay, Kibungan, and Kabayan in Benguet, Luna and Flora in Apayao, Dolores, Bucay ang Peñarubia in Abra and Bauko and Paracelis in Mt. Province.

Technical Assistance and Resource Augmentation have also been provided to the Provincial/ Municipal Anti-Drug Abuse Council of various local government units (LGUs) for them to start their community-based rehabilitation services. These LGUs include the Province of Ifugao, municipalities of Bauko, Bontoc, Tadian, Natonin, Sadanga, Paracelis, and Sagada in Mt. Province, Baguio City, municipalities of Luna, Flora, Pudtol, Sta. Marcela, Kabugao, Calanasan, and Conner in the Province of Apayao, municipalities of Itogon, Kibungan, Tublay, Tuba, La Trinidad, Sablan, Atok, Buguias, Kabayan, Kapangan, and Bakun in Benguet Province, municipalities of Danglas, Manado, Bangued, Pilar, Penarubia, Langiden, Sallapadan, Licuan-Baay, San Quintin, San Isisdro, Bucay, Dolores, and Villaviciosa in Abra Province and the municipalities of Lubuagan, Tanudan, Rizal, Pasil, Balbalan and Tabuk City in Kalinga Province.

“The DSWD-CAR continues to intensify its advocacies to help in addressing the concerns related to the use and abuse of illegal drugs and activities related to this. We are doing our best to reach our communities through their Provincial, Municipal, and Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (P/M/BADAC) and provide them with the information and knowledge that they could use for them to better address the illegal drug problem in their respective areas.” OIC-Regional Director Janet P. Armas shared.# DSWD-CAR, Social Marketing Unit, Nerizza Faye G. Villanueva