In a bid to provide better programs for drug prevention and treatment for drug victims in Palawan, the United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC) together with the Community Enhancement and Livelihood Program (CELP) of the Palawan Provincial Government held a meeting on Friday, April 22 at the Provincial Capitol.
UNODC’s Health and Drugs Program Officer Milos Stojanovic and Shella Ruiz- Marquez of UNODC Philippines met with representatives of the Palawan Provincial Government and were welcomed by Provincial Administrator Atty. Joshua Bolusa and CELP Manager Teri Acda.
Acda said that the meeting aims to strengthen the coordination between UNODC and the Palawan Provincial Government to enforce better drug prevention, rehabilitation and treatment for Palaweños who are bearing the effects of drug use but aim to change and start a new life with the help of both agencies.
“This activity of UNODC is to further the partnership that we are having with them. We have been partnering with UNODC since 2018. We have Strong Families Program wherein the Philippines was represented by Palawan in the United Nations 64th meeting. We presented and that project has been in partnership with UNODC, and then we have other partnership with them. Now, we are doing the CBDRP, so we would like to further expand that partnership, so that’s the reason why they’re visiting Palawan,” Acda said.
During the visit, Acda explained the step by step process their office has been practicing under Community-Based Drugs Rehabilitation Program (CBDRP) as well as other programs that they have been promoting over the years.
UNODC and the representatives of CELP are also expected to visit some institutions in Palawan such as PSU- Puerto Princesa City Campus, Provincial Jail, Provincial PNP and Iwahig Prison and Penal Farm (IPPF).
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