Drug users no more: Sagop Kinabuhi Program 2 continues to help drug users find new life

DAVAO CITY—This has been the hope of the Church for drug users who submitted themselves for reformation when the Sagop Kinabuhi 2 of the Archdiocese of Davao began.

After 17 weeks of intensive pyscho-social and pyscho-spiritual formation, former drug users or Voluntary Submission for Reformation Persons (VSRPs) have reached the new chapter of their formation as they are now called Persons In Recovery.

The Our Lady of the Assumption Parish has organized the ‘moving-up’ ceremony of nine VSRPs during the ceremony and Family and Fun Day held March 25, at the Assumption College of Davao.

Fr. Leonardo Dublan, Jr., director of the Archdiocesan Social Action Center of Davao said the moving up of the VSRPs is the fulfillment of the Gagmay’ng Kristohanong Katilinggban (GKK) whose leaders and members volunteered to offer their time and resources for the 17-week formation.

He added that those who finished their intensive formation are now ready to actualize the term persons in recovery as they make their pledge to avoid drug use.

“Let us continue our journey. Laban lang. We will win over the challenges,” Fr. Dublan said to the VSRPs and the volunteers from the different GKKs of the Our Lady of the Assumption Parish.

“Amidst the difficulties, victory is waiting for us,” he added.

The families and friends of the VSRPs together with the Gabay or the volunteers from the GKKs who helped them have joined in the activities during the family fun day.

As part of their incentives, they have received some grocery items. Those who completed the 17-week formation with no absences have received a sack of rice as reward for their commitment for change.

One of the VSRPs named Angelo said that he didn’t know what will happen to them when they first signed up for the Sagop Kinabuhi Program 2, a program initiated by the Archdiocese of Davao that has cascaded in the different parishes to help drug users recover and change their lives.

“Every session, the parish provides us three kilos of rice. It really helped us to feed our families while we undergo the weekly session. We promise that we will help those who are also struggling to stop their addiction to drug use,” he added.

“I can’t explain the happiness I felt right now. They have accepted us despite our past,” he said.

One volunteer said that they have invested their time just to be part in helping former drug users find a new life.

“They are part of our lives now,” she said.

Sagop Kinabuhi is currently being held in different parishes in Davao City including St. Mary of the Perpetual Rosary Parish and San Antonio de Padua Parish in Agdao.