Abalos leads seminar on drug surrenderers

Mandaluyong City Mayor Menchie Abalos (on stage) gives a short, inspirational talk during the two-day seminar/counselling for drug surrenderers last October 14. Around 1,000 drug users who surrendered to local authorities were brought to Iba, Zambales, along with their families, for the said activity as part of the Mandaluyong City’s Oplan Lingap Kontra Droga campaign.

Mandaluyong government together with interfaith groups give free counselling to drug user surrenderers

Drug users in Mandaluyong City who have surrendered in the Oplan Tokhang will undergo a two-day seminar and counselling in Zambales province. 

The activity, headed by Mayor Menchie Abalos, was organized by the local government under its Oplan-Lingap Kontra Droga campaign, the Mandaluyong Anti-Drug Abuse Council (MADAC), the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BADAC) and the interfaith led by the different pastors of Mandaluyong.

All the drug users who surrendered will be accompanied with their family members and will be transported to a facility in the City of Iba, Zambales on Friday, October 14. All transportation, lodging and other expenses are shouldered by the said groups and the local government.

A free Laughter Yoga session will be given by coach Paolo Trinidad.

Mayor Abalos welcomed the interfaith community’s help. She said their efforts coincide with the government’s campaign to give those drug users who have surrendered to the authorities a second chance in life.

“We want to uplift the lives of these individuals who have fallen prey to illegal drugs. They are still part of our society,” Abalos added.

The Oplan-Lingap Kontra Droga campaign was created by former Mayor Benhur Abalos. He formed the campaign when he was a city councilor of the city 21 years ago.