Eleven drug surrenderers of Barugo, Leyte are the first ever to receive livelihood aid from the DSWD Field Office, after completing the Community-Based Rehabilitation Program conducted by the local government unit and some national government agencies like the DSWD.

Through the agency’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) under the Pre-Employment Assistance Fund (PEAF) modality, each of the recovering drug dependents were recently granted Php5,000.00, the amount of which was to be used for payment of processing fees in securing vital documents for employment.

They are now hired as traffic enforcers by the municipal government, initially called as Barugo Responders Association.

SLP Program Development Officer Aliver Idano, in a recent interview, tells that the group has of late changed its name into Barugo Peace Movers Association.

Says DSWD Regional Director Restituto Macuto, the drug problem has to be addressed thru interventions that go to the root causes, one of which is poverty.# #DSWDMayMalasakit