Caloocan City Mayor Dale Gonzalo “Along” Malapitan confirmed the continuous partnership of the City Government of Caloocan and the Catholic Church for the city’s drug rehabilitation process. He likewise assured Bishop Pablo Virgilio “Ambo” David of the Diocese of Caloocan that the client’s identities shall remain private.
Caloocan Anti-Drug Abuse Office (CADAO) Officer-in-charge Sonny Amoyo personally met with Bishop Ambo to express the Mayor’s wishes, emphasizing that as more Barangays seek CADAO’s assistance, partnership with the Church would help address drug problems in the community.
He also relayed to the Bishop the Mayor’s directive of keeping the list of client’s information confidential.
“Maraming barangay officials ang nakikipag-ugnayan sa atin at mismong kay Mayor Along ukol sa sitwasyon sa kanilang mga komunidad at maraming kababayan natin ang nais magbagong buhay, sa tulong ng Simbahan, inaasahan natin na mas matutugunan po natin ang kanilang rehabilitasyon,” OIC Amoyo said.
“Ang bilin ni Mayor Along, panatilihin na pribado ang mga detalye ng mga sasailalim sa ating community-based rehabilitation programs at huwag sirain ang tiwala sa kanya at kanyang administrasyon ng mga barangay at mga kababayan nating nais magbago,” he added.
Mayor Along expressed his gratitude for the Church’s favorable response and stated that at the core of every rehabilitation program is spiritual guidance.
“The partnership of the city government and the Church has been proven to be valuable in ensuring the success of our rehabilitaion program,” he said.
“We are happy and humbled that Bishop Ambo assured the city of continuous partnership and guidance,” the Mayor expressed.
Recently, the Caloocan Anti-Drug Abuse Office (CADAO) was awarded as one of the High Functional Anti-Drug Abuse Councils in the region by the Department of the Interior and Local Government-National Capital Region (DILG-NCR).
In line with this, Mayor Along also guaranteed to Bishop Ambo and his constituents that the city government shall continuously partner with organizations and incorporate new methods for the rehabilitation, treatment, and reinstatement of drug victims.