DSWD to roll out ‘Hilom Bayan’ in 6 regions

During the #RealNumbersPH Forum held at Crowne Plaza Manila in Ortigas, Quezon City, Badoy said “Hilom Bayan”, which will use funds from President Rodrigo Duterte’s socio-civic projects, will target mild to moderate cases of drug abuse. (Photo: Department of Social Welfare and Development/ Facebook)

MANILA–The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is set to roll out the “Hilom Bayan”, a community-based drug rehabilitation program, in six regions across the country, Assistant Secretary Lorraine Badoy disclosed Tuesday.

During the #RealNumbersPH Forum held at Crowne Plaza Manila in Ortigas, Quezon City, Badoy said “Hilom Bayan”, which will use funds from President Rodrigo Duterte’s socio-civic projects, will target mild to moderate cases of drug abuse.

Severe cases meanwhile will be handled by rehabilitation centers managed by the Department of Health, she said.

According to Badoy, “Hilom Bayan” will be initially rolled out in the National Capital Region, Central Luzon (Region 3), Eastern Visayas (Region 8), Zamboanga Peninsula (Region 9), Soccsksargen (Region 12) and Calabarzon (Region 4-A) and will cover beneficiaries of the department’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, as well as indigenous people.

The program, she said, will be patterned after the Cordillera Administrative Region’s Ifugao Reflection Camp, which was established by the provincial government last year to provide therapy for drug surrenderers.

Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo earlier noted that her department will provide recovering drug users aftercare services to help them return to mainstream society.

The community-based intervention will be provided with the help of local government units and the Ugnayan ng Barangay at Simbayan, she added.