Legazpi City-Last December 18, 2013, DSWD inks MOA with national government agencies (NGAs) to extend inter-agency support services for recovering drug dependents under the pilot program dubbed as Strategies Toward Acceptance, Reintegration & Transformation (START) led by DSWD in Bicol region.

The pilot implementation of START will be done in Malinao Treatment and Rehabilitation Center (MTRC) along with government-owned centers in Central Visayas (Region VII), Northern Mindanao (Region X), and National Capital Region (NCR). The program will be pilot tested within eighteen (18) months from October 2013- April 2015.

According to Dir. Arnel Garcia, all the government agencies will provide complete support services to facilitate total family and community approach for the rehabilitation of recovering drug dependents to promote prevention and protection of the families and communities from the harmful effects of drug abuse.

During the orientation of Eden Marino, a Registered Social Worker and START focal person, said that the program will engage different government agencies in the provision of existing basic, economic and psychosocial services and shall utilize existing inter-agency mechanisms to maximize the community-based programs and services already being provided by government agencies and non-government organizations, CSOs, Academe and Faith-Based Organizations.

START is a community-based intervention strategy particularly for recovering drug dependents that have undergone treatment, rehabilitation and after-care program in various government-owned centers that are being prepared for discharge and reintegration to their families and communities. The strategy shall focus on the organization of recovering drug dependents who will later become the advocacy arm at the community level.

The target beneficiaries of START are clients who are admitted with an average of five (5) years drug history with no psychological disorder and age ranging from 18-50 years old (employable age).

The pilot implementation shall also lead to a research study that will test the effectiveness of the inter-agency mechanism when applied among the recovering drug users as basis for broader if not nationwide implementation.

Present during the ceremonial MOA signing are DSWD Regional Dir. Arnel Garcia, Dra. Ma. Teresa Iñigo of MTRC, Parole & Probations Administration (PPA) Assistant Regional Director (ARD) Amy Sarmiento, TESDA Technical Director Conrad Bares, DOLE ARD Exequel Guzman and other representatives of provincial and municipal local government units (LGUs).