5th Draft, Project to Establish NDRC Bohol

Note: As requested by some of my friends, here is a copy of the 5th draft of the proposal that we establish a drug rehab center in Bohol. This is a scaled-down version of the previous drafts based on the suggestion not to include yet the other support facilities and the components (livelihood center, community theater, wellness facility, volunteers resource center) for the longer term. We will go on an advocacy and fund campaign if no funds can be expected from donors, key partners and/or investors. 

We need your comments before we do the next steps. 

13  April 2015

Dear All,

This is to submit to you the 5^th draft of our proposal that we establish in Bohol an entity similar to the New Day Recovery Center (NDRC) in Davao City. This 5th draft is based on feedbacks to the 3^rd and 4^th drafts sent to you during the past few days. Based on these feedbacks, the Project will focus on the following:

1.     One operational Outreach and Drop-In Center, fully staffed and able to function at community 
      level;

2.     A 30-client facility for the drug rehabilitation center, fully staffed with trained professionals and 
     administrative staff;

3.     An Advocacy and Fund Campaign launched to raise PHP 5 million to enable an initial 10 clients 
      from indigent  to access quality treatment at the NDRC Bohol;

4.     A total of 20 clients undergoing treatment as initial target for clients from family and fully paying
      for the services;

5.     Trainers, community organizers and facilitators recruited and trained and deployed for social 
       preparation activities in support of both the Drop-In Center and the Drug Rehabilitation Center.

Once the funding for this initial program has been assured, we will request that a planning meeting be convened to  prepare the detailed work plan. Thanks.   

NESTOR M. PESTELOS

President

PROJECT TITLE:

Establishing the New Day Recovery Center (NDRC) Bohol

PROPONENT:

Diocese of Tagbilaran

CONVENOR/COORDINATOR:

Bohol Local Development Foundation, Inc.

PARTNER AGENCIES:

NDRC Davao

Holy Name University

Kasing-Sining Association

Provincial Government of Bohol

1.0      BACKGROUND/

            RATIONALE

The New Day Recovery Center (NDRC) patterned after a similar facility in Davao City has been proposed to be built in Bohol to ensure that a multi-pronged approach be adopted to cope with social problems created by the alarming increase in illegal use of drugs mostly among young people.

NDRC Bohol will combine community-based approaches with cost-effective clinical methods and a humanitarian and eclectic strategy, including the provision of livelihood opportunities and the use of culture and the arts, to deal with drug abuse which threatens social stability in many local communities.

Bohol, with a 1.2 million population, has no drug rehabilitation center and mental health facility. Family members affected with drug and alcohol addiction, as well as those with mental health problems, have to be brought to Cebu, Davao, Manila and Tagaytay City in Cavite province for their treatment. Indigent families in the province have difficulty seeking treatment for their affected members on account of the high costs involved.

Likewise, Psychology students in Bohol have to spend more money to go to these institutions for their practicum and case management studies

Initial steps have been taken by a non-profit, SEC-registered NGO, the Bohol Local Development Foundation (BLDF), to consult with various sectors on how best to cope with problems brought about by the fact that more than 50% of crimes committed in the province are drug-related.

The Diocese of Tagbilaran and its key partners agree that multi-sectoral efforts have to be exerted to cope with social problems caused by increasing cases of drug abuse and the rise in the number of people who need counselling and psycho-social services.

Moreover, it has been recognized that without community involvement, without local communities and families accepting their role in the prevention, pre-treatment and treatment phases of drug demand reduction/elimination, it will be difficult to ensure early diagnosis and full family and community reintegration after treatment and rehabilitation.

The key partners of NDRC Bohol have also seen the need to provide livelihood opportunities to households affected by the problems related to drug abuse to further ensure project sustainability. Engagement of NDRC clients in livelihood activities can also be part of treatment and rehabilitation to further ensure reintegration into normal community and family life after the rehabilitation phase.

1.1      Guiding Principles

As a drug rehabilitation center, NDRC Bohol will be guided by the following principles advocated by the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crimes (UNDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO):

1.1.1    Drug dependence is a complex and multifactorial disorder involving individual, cultural, biological, social and environmental factors.

1.1.2    Drug dependence is as much a disorder of the brain as any other neurological or psychiatric illness.

1.1.3    One of the main barriers to treatment and care is the stigma and discrimination associated with this treatable health disorder.

1.1.4    Drug dependence treatment needs a comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach including both pharmacological and psychosocial interventions.

1.1.5    Drug dependence can be treated effectively with low-cost medications and standardized psychological therapies.

The proposed drug rehabilitation and mental health facility will adhere to the Manual of Operations of the DOH Manual of Operations of the Philippine Government as well as guidelines prescribed by the United Nations, through its mandated bodies, such as the UN Office for Drugs and Crimes (UNDC) and WHO, the Colombo Plan Secretariat, among other agencies. 

2.0      OBJECTIVES

2.1      To provide diversified, effective and quality drug dependence treatment and rehabilitation 
            services, including care and treatment of those with mental health problems.

2.2      To identify and remove barriers to low-cost, effective and evidence-based drug treatment 
            services in ways that also ensure the financial viability and sustainability of program and 
             administrative operations in the provision of services.

3.0     STRATEGY    

To achieve these objectives, the Project will implement the following multi-pronged strategy:

3.1   Program Development

3.1.1   Advocacy

The Project will promote a sound understanding of drug dependence treatment and care (including matters related to mental health) and the recognition of both as a health disorder that requires a multidisciplinary and comprehensive approach.

3.1.2    Capacity Building

The Project will impart or enhance the technical skills and capacity of drug dependence treatment and care service providers at provincial and sub-provincial levels through a "train the trainers" approach.

It will mobilize and train a mobile team of trainers at provincial or diocese level and ensure that a Drug Dependence Treatment Training Package is in place as support to the operations of the Outreach and Drop-in Center ODIC), which will be known as the New Day Community Centers (NDCCs) as first contact point between the family and the NDRC Bohol.

NDRC Davao staff, their  Master Trainers and counterparts at national and international levels,  all experts on drug dependence treatment, will lead the training of trainers at provincial level, who in turn train the service providers at the NDRC Bohol and its satellite NDCCs.

3.1.3    Service Improvement

The Project will support the development and improvement or maintenance of evidence-based treatment and care services to ensure high-quality services at the NDRC and the local NDCC level.

It will mobilize a network of relevant government agencies, primary health care services, universities and NGOs that will disseminate evidence-based good practice in drug dependence and mental health services and ensure accessibility to treatment, as well as post-treatment  social integration and rehabilitation.

The Project will help develop client-specific quality standards.

3.2      Financial Sustainability

3.2.1  NDRC Davao will manage NDRC Bohol as business enterprise to ensure

          the financial sustainability of the project. NDRC clients will be charged

          fees as is the practice in the counterpart facility in Davao City. The   

          management will exercise functions as befit a commercial entity as

          NDRC Bohol to ensure financial viability for the enterprise.

3.2.2  BLDF, the Provincial Government of Bohol and other key partners will

           raise funds or engage in livelihood or social enterprises to be able to refer

           and support clients from indigent families to avail of services at NDRC

           Bohol.

3.3     Infrastructure Development

This will consist of several components:

3.3.1  A Residential Treatment and Rehabilitation Center (In-patient Center)     

           with an initial capacity of 30 persons/beds that provides comprehensive   

           rehabilitation services utilizing, among others, any of the accepted  

           modalities: Multi-disciplinary Team Approach, Therapeutic Community

           Approach, and/or Spiritual Services towards the rehabilitation of the

           dependent.

Note:   For this facility,the Pestelos Family has offered the use of its 6,000 sq.m. property owned by the Family in Laya adjacent to the Balay Kahayag Retreat House and Training Center. Specific terms and conditions will be discussed in more detail later among the parties involved.

3.3.2   At least one Outreach and Drop-in Center  will be established initially in

           a Barangay Chapel or Parish and later in Barangay Health Centers,

          Hospitals or Clinics, government or private.

           This Drop-In center will serve as initial contact with local

           communities and households  if they want to access information and

           services related to drug dependence and other addictions.

           The Drop-In centers to be established under the Project will be  

           developed to be able to implement the following activities:  

·        Consultation, counselling and evaluation

·        Screening and assessment

·        Case management

·        Enhancing community awareness about drug addiction

Staffing: At least, one paid staff at each Drop-In Center accountable to the supervising or senior officer, e.g. the Parish Priest; head of the host government agency or NGO.

If budget will allow, a trained assistant; trained volunteers and community facilitators will be needed if potential clients will increase.

The paid staff and volunteers will be trained on: how to use the Assessment and Screening Tools; knowledge and skills in presenting the nature of addiction.

Preferably, the paid staff should be a Psychology graduate or Social Worker.  

4.0  SUGGESTED ROLES OF THE INITIAL KEY PARTNERS

4.1       DIOCESE OF TAGBILARAN

The Diocese, which oversees 50% of the parishes in the province, will take a lead role in providing the needed infrastructure or space for the Outreach and Drop-In Centers. Through these Centers, the Diocese can take the lead role in providing moral guidance for those needing psycho-social services and care. It will oversee the administration and management of the Drop-In Centers within the premises of the Church which will be organized with the technical advice and support by NDRC Davao and the other key partners.

It will make available lay persons and church volunteers who will be trained on providing initial consultation and referral services to family members seeking help on their problems regarding drug and alcohol addiction.

The Diocese will encourage parishioners and donors to raise funds to ensure that NDRC clients coming from poor families get adequate counselling and treatment services as required. It is suggested that the Diocese help provide funding for infrastructure development and the provision of funds for the initial two years of operations by NDRC Bohol and/or a network of Drop-In Centers that will be established within its premises.  

4.2      NDRC DAVAO

NDRC Davao will serve as manager of NDRC Bohol with other stakeholders and/or sponsors serving as members of a Board or a Management Committee.

NDRC Davao is a noted rehabilitation and psychological services facility with a pool of medical experts in the field. It is part of an international network of similar institutions

NDRC Davao will run the new facility as a private sector or commercial undertaking to ensure financial sustainability. Its use of the land and other resources made available through donations from other stakeholders will be subject to terms and conditions that to be discussed later with the parties involved.

4.3      HOLY NAME UNIVERSITY

HNU will assign interns and volunteers from among its faculty and students

in Psychology, Social Sciences and Human Resources Management. It will participate in the activities of NDRC Bohol through its membership in appropriate committees to be created under NDRC Bohol.

Through these committees, HNU can mutually enrich its instruction, research and extension programs as it contributes to implementing the mission of NDRC Bohol to broaden the outreach of its prevention and treatment services to affected families among the relatively disadvantaged sections of the population.

4.4      KASING SINING

This Association of cultural workers in various fields will ensure that cultural presentations and creative methodologies will be used effectively to convey pertinent developmental messages to achieve behavioral change objectives among families and communities as part of the healing process.

Through its cultural shows , workshops, interactive fora and other advocacy presentations, KS will exert efforts to reinforce awareness, further enhance and facilitate cooperation of families and communities in the overall healing process for drug dependents and those with mental illnesses.

4.5      PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT OF BOHOL

The Provincial Government of Bohol will provide support to ensure that the various LGUs and national agencies with programs and services in Bohol provide the needed support for the smooth operations of the NDRC Bohol and the various NDDCs. It will ensure that livelihood and other services are provided as part of the healing process within the Center.

It will mobilize funding and technical support as it sees fit for both the infrastructure and program requirements of NDRC Bohol and its Drop In Centers.

It will ensure that LGUs allocate funds to support the objective of opening access to NDRC services to the relatively more disadvantaged families, groups  and communities in the province. 

4.6     BOHOL LOCAL DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION, INC. (BLDF)

Bohol Local Development Foundation, Inc. (BLDF) and its predecessor organization, the UNICEF-assisted Ilaw International Center (IIC), have a combined experience of more than thirty years in efforts to address poverty in Bohol.

Over the years, BLDF has conceptualized, field-tested and replicated methodologies, systems and tools to enhance partnership with local communities and various types of institutions and organizations in poverty reduction projects. Some of these innovative processes and pro-poor planning tools (Poverty Database and Monitoring System; Ilaw ng Buhay or Light of Life philosophy and approach to development adopted globally by UNICEF in the 1980s; integrated area-based methodology) have been replicated in diverse cultural and socio-economic context both in the Philippines and abroad.

It agrees with the other stakeholders that a comprehensive approach is needed to address the social problems posed by the increasing use of illegal drugs particularly among the youth.  This drug abuse problem, if unchecked, will negate the gains made over several decades in development efforts by the Government, its partners and the international donors.  

BLDF has sought to be part of the evolving plans and programs to address the social problems posed by the growing drug menace in Bohol. Otherwise, the achievements in combatting poverty in the province will be for naught. Hence it initiated dialogues with key sectors in formulating a response to this major concern.

In addition, it has offered the use of the following properties for the project:

a) 6,000 sq. m. property in Laya, Baclayon for the infrastructure

       of the proposed NDRC Bohol; and

b) 1.2 ha. property in sitio Mangool, San Isidro, Baclayon for the livelihood

     center and other required facilities (gymnasium, community theater,

     wellness facility, volunteers resource center in support of  the proposed   

     NDRC Bohol. 

Specific terms and conditions will be prepared with NDRC Davao for the use of these two properties.

It is proposed that BLDF, on account of its track record in development and the key initiatives it has taken with respect to this Project, perform the role of Project Coordinator on behalf of the proponent agency, the Diocese of Tagbilaran.

5.0  Organization and Management/Institutional Arrangements

5.1   Project Oversight Committee (POC)

Key task:  To provide overall policy direction and liaise with other stakeholders and donors/supporters of the project.

Composition:

 Representatives of key partners, namely:

-Diocese of Tagbilaran City

-Provincial Government of Bohol

-NDRC Davao

-Holy Name University

-Kasing Sining

-Bohol Local Development Foundation, Inc. (BLDF)

Note: Other organizations may have a representative to the Project Oversight Committee depending on the consensus of the initial key members.

2.0  Project Management Committee (PMC)

Key Task: To provide day-to-day management to the implementation of the Overall Work Plan as approved by the POC.

Composition:

2.1Project Coordinator

2.2Deputy Project Coordinator/Head of Project Secretariat

2.3Head, Advocacy and Fud Raising Group (AFRG)

2.4Head, Technical Working Group (TWG)

2.5Head, Infrastructure Advisory Group  (IAG)

Note: It is recommended that the partner agencies be represented in the PMC and its working groups.

   3.0   Project  Secretariat (PS)

    Key Task: To provide staff support to the PMC in the performance of day-to-

                      day  tasks

     Composition:

      3.1  Coordinator

      3.2 1 IT Specialist/Researcher/Documentor

             1 Secretary/Receptionist  

      3.4  1 Bookkeeper

      3.5 1 Driver/Utility

      Note: These are all paid staff.

     4.0  Advocacy and Fund Raising Group

Key Task:  To prepare and implement an Advocacy and Fund Raising Plan

                    in support of NDRC Bohol and its satellite Drop-In Centers

            Composition:  The PMC will appoint the Head of this group, composed of

                                       the various entities, agencies/organizations in soliciting

                                       funds or donations primarily to create a Social   

                                       Fund/Trust Fund to enable access to quality services

                                       from NDRC by clients from indigent families.

             Note: The Project Management Committee (PMC)  will provide

                       guidelines on the conduct of the Advocacy and Fund Raising

                       Campaign taking into account transparency and accountability in

                       all financial transactions.

       Consultants may be requested as needed from National and Regional

       agencies, as well as  international organizations such as  the Colombo Plan,

       World Health Organization, United Nations on Drugs and Crimes and

       International NGOs to provide technical advice on NDRC Bohol operations.

5^th Draft, NDRC Bohol Project

Prepared by:

Nestor M. Pestelos, President, BLDF

13 April 2015/8.31 a.m.

ANNEX 

ESTIMATED BUDGET FOR YEAR 1

ITEM	ESTIMATED COSTS (PhP)	REMARKS
10 Mobilization fund for project      preparation: 1.1 Seed money to get organized (to         establish office; hire support staff;        solicit contributions; prepare       advocacy materials; conduct       activities related to fund campaign 1.2  Initial training program for project        staff and volunteers	2,000,000 1,370,000                             3,370,000	Note: Important to have seed money for the Advocacy and Fund Campaign and to train the Core Staff and the Community Facilitators to be assigned by key partners Based on costing available at NDRC Davao, per client spends Php 70,000 for a minimum of 7 months stay at the Center. The initial Fund campaign will target raising Php 4,900,000 to pay for an initial target of 10 clients from indigent families.
2.0 Establishment of 1 Drop-In Center 2.1  Building cost for 17 sq.m. structure        at Php 18,000 per sq m. 2.2  Office equipment  (1 Laptop; LCD; 2        tables; 6 chairs; 1 electric fan) 2.3  Staff (1 Psychologist; 1 Social        Worker) 2.4   Utilities (Light and water; office          supplies; communication and          transport)	306,000 62,500 387,525 74,400 830, 425	Note: The cost for 1 Drop-In Center can be reduced if the use of a building will be donated by the host Parish or a Key Partner Operating 1 Drop-In Center will be on pilot basis for one year or less to enable the newly-trained staff to gain experience and
3.0 Establishment of the Drug       Rehabilitation Center  (400 sq. m.)       for 30 clients at Php 18,000 per sq.       m.                                          3.1  Equipment (beds, cabinet, locker,        etc.)	7,200,000 275,000 7,475,000	Note:  Subject to review by the Architect
5.0 Staffing 5.1 Center Program        Director/Administrator  at Php        35,000 per month 5.2  1 On-Call DOH Accredited Physician        at Php 1,500 per visit  (52 visits per        year) 5.3  1 On-call Licensed Dentist at Php         1,500 per visit (6 visits per year) 5.4  1 Licensed nurse/midwife at Php         18,000 per month 5.5  1 Licensed Social Worker at Php        20,000 per month 5.6 1 Psychologist/Psychiatrist at Php        20,000 per month 5.6.2 1 Clerk at Php 11,000 per month 5.7  1 Non-professional staff at Php         9,000 per month 5.8  3 Utility/Security aides at Php 9,000        per person a month 5.9 Fringe benefits (SSS, PhilHealth,       Pag-ibig) at Php 30,000 per year	455,000 78,000 9,000 234,000 260,000 260,000 143,000 117,000 351,000 1,957,000  3,604,000	Note: It is expected that volunteers from the Church, HNU and other institutions will render service at NDRC Bohol.
6.0  Incidental Expenses for Operations 6.1 Light and Water at Php 5,000 per       month 6.2  Gasoline at Php 3,000 per month 6.3  Office supplies at Php 2,000 per         month 6.4  Communication at Php 2,000 per         month  6.5  Transport fares at Php 1,000 per         month 6.6  Multicab 6.7  2 Desktops and 1 printer	60,000 36,000 24,000 24,000 12,000 235,000 110,000 501,000
TOTAL	PHP 15,780,425 or USD 358, 646 at the current exchange rate of PHP 44 to USD 1.

NMP/BLDF 13 Apr/3.59 p.m.

A CONSPIRACY OF SILENCE

For The Bohol Tribune

In This Our Journey

NESTOR MANIEBO PESTELOS

From the euphoria of being greeted last week by hundreds of Facebook friends on our 73^rd birthday, we have been suffering emotional reversals lately for receiving almost zero support to our advocacy that we build a drug rehabilitation center in Bohol to address present and future problems caused by the alarming increase of illegal drug users in the province.

I think most people believe that effective law enforcement and good parenting will be enough to solve this problem. Surely these two measures can help by addressing the supply and demand side of the illegal drug trade. Equally important, however, is to address existing and potential social problems created by having hundreds of drug abusers in practically all barangays in the province.

Our fellow columnist, Donald Borja Sevilla, notes in his column last week that the drug abuse problem “continues to plague and haunt us like cancer eating us from within.” He also validates what everyone of us seems to know, although we do not speak of it openly: “The problem is far reaching that nary a community is without a pusher or user.”  In many cases, according to some informants, the users become pushers to be able to afford the high costs of drugs.

The net objective effect of such a problem is that more than 50% of crimes committed in Bohol are drug-related, according to recent media accounts citing police reports. And this fact should be enough to prod us to action. It is quite significant to note that the drug-related killings and the images of young people shot dead in broad daylight in busy streets in the city, and those in other streets of distant towns or barangays, have not resulted in any kind of moral outrage on the part of Boholanos in general.

There seems be a conspiracy of silence among most sectors regarding this growing drug menace in our midst. We have not heard the collective voice of the Churches and religious groups, political parties and their leaders, the youth and their campus and off-campus organizations.

Our advocacy, as articulated in previous columns, is that we must do something about making available treatment services to as many drug abusers now, especially those coming from indigent families and remote communities who cannot afford  the high costs of such treatment in the cities of Cebu, Manila, Davao, and Tagaytay.

If we do not build our own drug rehabilitation center in Bohol, preferably run by the private sector, but enjoying the combined support of the Government, the Church, civil society, and academic institutions, the social problems created by the increased use of illicit drugs , such as rising crimes, wasted human resources mostly among the affected youth, as well as more unemployment and dependency, will be impossible to address in the coming years.

Since December last year, we have consulted with representatives of various sectors and spent hours over several months studying the operations of a noted drug rehabilitation center in Davao, and have formulated a total of five draft proposals on how we can establish a similar facility in our province, but except for a few comments from friends, these proposals have not merited any kind of serious attention from representatives of key sectors in our province.

In the latest draft proposal which we submitted last week, and published in the social media, we reduced the time frame from three years to one year in building the basic infrastructure for a rehabilitation center; at least one outreach and drop-in center preferably based in a faith-based organization during the initial period; providing for remuneration of the medical and administrative support staff; training the core staff and community facilitators who will run future drop-in centers and conduct as soon as possible an intensive campaign on drug prevention and treatment; and the conduct of a fund campaign to produce a trust fund to support clients from indigent families and remote communities.

The total cost of the project has been reduced from Php 40 million to Php 15 million  In our opinion, the important  thing is to build soonest the drug rehabilitation facility and at least one outreach and drop-in center so that the paid staff and volunteers will gain additional skills and confidence in conducting consultations, assessment and referrals, as well as performing treatment and post-treatment tasks, as soon as possible. 

Despite the vast silence that has greeted our draft proposals up to this time since five months ago, we have remained optimistic that on their own the key sectors are actually working out something to address the problems that we all think will get worst as more people with drug abuse problems go untreated with their brain damaged severely due to addiction.

At some future time, the skewed perspective of drug abuse victims on their increasingly broken relationship with their family, community and ultimately their own selves shall have caused profound damage to society in general.  Perhaps it will be the time that majority of us will have the motivation to act on behalf of our beloved province.

By that time, we are definitely wiser but too senile to be bothered by not being able to succeed in our advocacy early enough. #Boholrehab

NMP/16 Apr 2015/10.05 p.m. 

INNOVATIVE FEATURES OF THE PROPOSED NDRC BOHOL

For The Bohol Tribune

In This Our Journey

NESTOR MANIEBO PESTELOS

In the draft document we submitted on behalf of our NGO early this week to the prospective partners (Diocese of Tagbilaran, Holy Name University, Kasing Sining, and the Provincial Government of Bohol) of the proposed New Day Resource Center (NDRC) Bohol patterned after a similar institution in Davao City, we recommended several  key features:

On Financial Sustainability

NDRC Davao, a noted rehabilitation and psychological services facility which is part of an international network of similar institutions, will manage NDRC Bohol as a business enterprise to ensure long-term sustainability. This feature will also discourage political interference in the admission of clients, who will be charged fees as is the practice in Davao City.

As principal investor and key management player, NDRC Davao will solicit investments from individuals and private sector or commercial entities. These investors will be represented in the Board of Directors or the Management Committee selected on the basis of specific criteria, which will take into account  the objective to ensure broad-based participation in policymaking and inclusion of social responsibility in the pursuit of financial viability.  

Its use of land and other resources made available through donations from other stakeholders will be subject to terms and conditions that will provide opportunities to pay for the expenses of clients from indigent families.

The other partners will raise funds or engage in livelihood or social enterprises to be able to refer and support clients from disadvantaged households and remote communities. The overall objective is to identify and remove barriers to low-cost, effective and evidence-based treatment services in ways that also ensure financial viability in the provision of treatment services.

The Bohol Local Development Foundation, Inc. (BLDF) will coordinate efforts on behalf of the Diocese of Tagbilaran to develop capabilities of local NGOs and academic institutions, especially those with Psychology and health-related courses, to handle a whole range of pre-treatment activities, including  increasing public awareness on drug addiction and its negative impact on the family and the community.

On Increasing Access to Quality Services by Clients from Indigent Families

While NDRC Bohol will build two vital facilities, a drug rehabilitation center cum mental health facility, it is highly recommended that a network of Outreach and Drop-In Centers (ODICs) be established to provide the missing link between the community and the service providers.  Such a community-based facility has been pioneered starting in 2005 by the Colombo Plan for Economic and Social Development in Asia and the Pacific under its Drug Advisory Program (DAP).

Under the proposed NDRC Bohol, the ODICs will be known as the New Day Drop-In Centers (NDDCs) to be established initially in Barangay Chapels or Parishes and later in Barangay Health Centers, Hospitals or Clinics, government or private. Through NDRC Davao, expertise will be sourced from the DAP to help in establishing the NDDCs.

These local NDDCs will fill an urgent need for a community-based facility with trained and committed staff to serve as initial contact with local communities and households. These community-based facilities will serve in effect as satellite centers responsible for the following: initial consultation and evaluation of potential clients; screening and assessment; case management; and equally important, a focal point for promoting and sustaining awareness about drug addiction and mental health among target sectors, such as the youth in both urban and rural areas.

We have recommended that at least a paid staff at each Drop-In Center be trained accountable to a senior officer, e.g. the Parish Priest or the head of the host government agency or NGO for the facility.

Trained volunteers and facilitators will be assigned to the Drop-in Centers to cope with the expected number of potential NDRC Bohol clients in a given area.

Through NDRC Davao, expertise from the Colombo Plan, World Health Organization and the UN Office for Drugs and Crimes can be accessed in making these community-based centers operational. During the initial year, the Diocese of Tagbilaran can take the lead in setting up such centers in close partnership with the local community and the LGUs as mobilized by the Provincial Government of Bohol and the City Government of Tagbilaran.

It is proposed that at this contact point between NDRC Bohol and the community, the paid staff should be either a Psychology graduate or a Social Worker. It will be useful to take note what the Colombo Plan Secretariat says  in its website :

“There is a definite need of a service model that can comprehensively implement outreach activities for those known as the hidden population, who have difficulty accessing correct information regarding addiction treatment as well as intervention. With expected outcomes, those who can be reached can be motivated to access other services that may be suitable for them.”

Equally important is the following observation which validates the need for professional services be made available to as close to the target families and communities as possible:

“Drug addiction is not the only issue for affected individuals; there will be underlying issues which lead them to addiction and other diseases. Therefore, due to such concerns, there is an urgent need for services and treatment centres which will be able to handle such cases comprehensively by managing them appropriately and providing physical and psychological treatment, along with equipping individuals with skills to overcome social problem, which will help them achieve their recovery.”

Helping establish the community-based Drop-In Centers will be a vital undertaking to pursue for the Diocese of Tagbilaran, the Provincial Government of Bohol and its component municipal and barangay LGUs, the Tagbilaran LGU, academic institutions and the NGOs in their common efforts to find a comprehensive strategy to address social problems brought about by drug addiction and alcoholism mostly among its young population.

In my meeting with Fr. Fernando Po, who has been involved with housing for earthquake victims in several municipalities, as well as otherinitiatives for the elderly, women and children in Panglao, he and the volunteers with him have launched a movement aimed at creating awareness about drug addiction among the youth of Tagbilaran City. He says his group will support the current campaign to build NDRC Bohol to address a long-felt need in the city and the province.

The proposal that we submitted to key partners for their consideration include several features not found in the current program of NDRC Davao which can be an enhancement of the drug treatment and mental health therapy model.

To address the need for a systematic program to ensure full integration of the healed drug dependents to the community and the family, we have recommended the creation or development of a New Day Village to consist of the following innovative features: 

  1)     A Livelihood Center (to be developed as the New Day Community

          College in the future) and an organic farm to engage NDRC clients in 

          productive activities as part of their therapy or as half-way resource

          center prior to their full integration to their communities and families to

          equip them with employable  or entrepreneurship skills.

    2)   The New Day Community Theatre (NDCT) to complement on-site

           presentations by Kasing Sining with a regular venue for

           cultural shows , workshops, interactive fora and other advocacy

           presentations. At various stages of the healing process, NDCT will also

           feature presentations of clients whenever it is appropriate or feasible to

           do so.

           NDCT will offer regular shows designed to raise awareness about issues

           relevant to advocacy themes and treatment and post-treatment issues

           and help raise awareness about the respective roles of stakeholders in

           the healing process.

       3)  The New Day Volunteers Resource Center (NDVRC)  

           The Project will implement a systematic recruitment and deployment of    

           volunteers to serve in NDRC Bohol and the various NDDCs that will be

           organized at local level.

            Universities and Colleges in Bohol will be encouraged to establish a

            Volunteers Resource Center to ensure a common pool of information

            officers with skills to recruit and train youth volunteers.

             An Inter-Faith Youth Council will be organized to support the NDVRC.   

Note: The New Day Village and its components will be created on a 1.2-ha. property in Manggool, San Isidro, Baclayon, the use of which will be made available through our NGO, the Bohol Local Development Foundation (BLDF).

May we all be guided by the Divine Spirit in finding a way out of the darkness to a much-deserved New Day in Bohol, our beloved province. #Newdaybohol

NMP/08Apr2015/6.09 a.m.