Access to treatment and rehabilitation begins with institutions that understand how to properly guide individuals and families through available recovery pathways.
To strengthen this capacity at the local level, the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), in partnership with the Provincial Government of Agusan del Norte, conducted an Orientation Seminar for Authorized Representatives under Republic Act No. 9165. The activity focused on the role of authorized representatives in facilitating petitions for voluntary confinement and helping connect persons who use drugs to lawful treatment and rehabilitation services.
The seminar gathered representatives from local government units (LGUs), Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (ADACs), and accredited rehabilitation centers, highlighting the importance of coordination among institutions involved in community-based rehabilitation and recovery support systems.
Provincial Administrator Elizabeth Calo and DDB Deputy Executive Director for Operations, Assistant Secretary Ferdaussi Masnar, emphasized the need to strengthen collaboration across agencies and local institutions to ensure that rehabilitation mechanisms remain accessible, responsive, and aligned with existing laws and policies.
Technical discussions were facilitated by resource persons from the DDB’s Preventive Education, Training and Information Division (PETID) and Legal Affairs Division (LAD), with Assistant Secretary Masnar, leading key discussions and sharing insights on the legal foundations, procedures, and institutional responsibilities related to voluntary treatment and confinement under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.
The activity forms part of the DDB’s continuing efforts to strengthen institutional readiness and support systems for treatment and rehabilitation. Through capacity-building initiatives and partnerships with local stakeholders, the Board continues to advance a public health and human rights-based approach that recognizes recovery as a shared responsibility among government, communities, and families.
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