Without the barangay, ex-drug user expects to end in ‘kulungan o kahon’

A former drug user said he might have ended up either in jail or in a coffin if he had not taken part in their barangay’s rehabilitation program more than a year ago.

Randy Quitay, a former tour guide from Barangay Holy Spirit in Quezon City, said, “Kung walang barangay, siguro dederetso ka na sa kulungan. Hindi lang sa kulungan, kundi sa kahon. Ilang beses na po namin nakita yan, inilagay sa kahon ang mga kaibigan namin.”

(Without the barangay, you could go directly to jail. Maybe, not just jail but inside a coffin. We have seen it many times, our friends were placed inside a coffin.)

Now clean from illegal drugs, Randy is slowly picking up the pieces, earning for himself by setting up a small barbeque stand in front of their home.

In Barangay Holy Spirit in Quezon City, former drug dependents enroll in livelihood training courses as a form of rehabilitation. The program plays a significant role in curbing illegal drug use and preventing more killings in the area, a former drug dependent says. Jhoanna Ballaran/INQUIRER.net

Randy lauded his barangay’s efforts to help drug surrenderees like himself via a two-pronged approach: let them undergo a church or community-based counselling program and provide them with a livelihood training course.

“Kasi ayaw talaga nilang may dumanak pa na [dugo]…[at madagdagan pa ang] hihiga,” Randy said.

(They really do not want to see more blood being spilled or more people being killed).

Humane

Since the government launched an anti-illegal drug campaign in 2016, about 32 drug suspects have been killed in Barangay Holy Spirit while 247 drug users and pushers have surrendered.

Amid incidents of killing of drug users and pushers, Barangay Holy Spirit has chosen the humane approach by rehabilitating drug dependents.

In an interview on Thursday, Barangay Captain Felicito “Chito” Valmocina told INQUIRER.net that they have implemented programs and activities to curb illegal drug use and reintegrate users back into the community.

The barangay encourages drug dependents to do urban gardening, participate in community clean-up drives, and join wellness activities like Zumba.

The barangay also provides livelihood training courses on meat processing, cosmetology, and handicrafts-making using recycled materials.

“’Yun yung mga ginagawa namin na kahit papano na mapagbago yung mga tao napariwara,” Valmocina said.

(That’s what we do to at least reform the people who have been led astray.)

He explained that these programs are not only for drug dependents but also for others who have caused trouble in the community.

Holistic

However, Valmocina noted that a strong and holistic rehabilitation program should be employed to ensure a more long-term impact because usually, drugs are already deeply ingrained in the lives of drug victims.

“Ang ugat talaga [ay] kahirapan, kagutuman, kawalan ng hanapbuhay, yung mga resulta ng mga broken family,” Valmocina said.

(The roots of the drug problem are poverty, hunger, joblessness; results of coming from a broken family.)

“Ang kailangan mo, i-reform at i-rehab. Kailangan mo lang matiyaga,” he added.

(You need to help them become reformed and rehabilitated. You just need to be patient.)

Seeking reelection

Valmocina has served the barangay for about 25 years. He is seeking re-election in the May 14 Synchronized Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

He explained that implementing the program can be very challenging because aside from budgetary concerns, many have no interest in participating in these programs.

“Sinisikap namin mapagbago kahit five percent. Sabi ko nga kay Father, sa 100, [kung may] 10, 20 porsyento ang mapagbago natin, sana maligaya na tayo,” he said.

(We try to reform even just 5 percent of them. I told a priest that out of the 100, if we can reform about 10 or 20 percent, we should be happy.)

“Para bang pagtuturo ko ng livelihood, bawat 100 lang na naturuan natin ng livelihood lima lang yung matututo nakatutuwa na. Ganoon kababa yung percentage ng may interes kahit na may programa ang barangay,” Valmocina said.

(It is similar to the livelihood training program I am conducting. For every 100 persons you teach, if five people learn, that’s good already. That’s how low the percentage is of people who have interest in the village’s programs.)

The barangay captain said he assigns a person to monitor and follow up a surrenderee’s progress and encourage them to participate in the barangay’s programs.

Randy, the former drug user, thinks this strategy is effective.

“Para sa pagbabago po kasi yon, para malayo sa mga ganung bagay po, [para] hindi na bumalik,” he said.

(That’s for the individual’s transformation, to keep the person away from drug use, and help him never go back to being a drug depended again.)

Other drug dependents like Randy are thankful for programs implemented by Barangay Holy Spirit which helped them restore trust and confidence in themselves.

As the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections loom on May 14, Randy advised voters to choose candidates who can help in reforming those who went astray in a humane way.

“Kaya may barangay ay para magkaroon ng magandang kinabukasan ang lahat,” Randy mused.

(The barangay is there to ensure better future for the members of the community.) /vvp