Mayor Leopoldo Bataoil of this town plans to reintegrate drug dependents here who surrendered themselves for reformation through a project called ‘Adopt a Surrenderer’.

“I talked with the police and asked them to identify the drug surrenderers even those newly identified. I told them we should conduct activities (except for those who are undergoing rehabilitation programs in institutions) that will make them productive. If we let them on their own, they might backslide,” he said during a forum on Tuesday.

The town has 338 surrenderers since 2016, according to the municipal information office.

“We will work on something productive to make them partners in the improvement of the barangay,” Bataoil said.

He said they plan to involve the former drug dependents in the cleaning and greening of the town.

“We’ll have them join the cleanup drives, coastal cleanups, and even ask them to join the groups like Lingayen Bantay Kalikasan who are advocates of the environment,” he added.

Bataoil also disclosed the local government’s plan to put up a model nursery or community nursery where the surrenderers could help in planting and propagating fruits and vegetables for the town’s needs.

The program will also include counseling, values formation, spiritual reformation, and livelihood training.

Bataoil’s proposed project was initially presented to the Municipal Peace and Order Council, Municipal Anti-Drug Abuse Council, and the Municipal Council for the Protection of Children. (PNA)