Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya—More than 3,000 “tokhang” responders in the province recently attended the 1st Provincial Summit at the Nueva Vizcaya Convention Center here.
Police Brig. Gen. Mario Espino, Philippine National Police Regional Director for Cagayan Valley, and Gov. Carlos Padilla led the summit along with other provincial, municipal and barangay officials.
Espino said the summit aims to remove the fear and animosities among the various stakeholders and emphasize on creating support networks that will show value and respect on the lives of the “tokhang” responders, and assist and facilitate their complete reformation and rehabilitation from illegal drugs.
“Tokhang” is the government program where law enforcers knock on a suspected drug trafficker or drug addict’s home (“toktok” in Cebuano) to persuade them (“hangyo”) to surrender and stop their illegal activities.
“We are glad that the support of our local government units is overwhelming, that is why we are building more networks and partnerships to further empower our ‘tokhang’ responders to become better and productive persons in their respective communities,” the police general said.
The summit, which was conceptualized by Espino, also served as a venue in offering responders various job opportunities and other assistance from national and local government agencies.
For instance, the Integrated Provincial Health Office shared their Oplan Sagip Program for the responders.
Also discussed was Republic Act 9165 or the Dangerous Drugs Act, the roles of Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils (BADACs), livelihood programs of the Department of Labor and Employment, skills development and training by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Christian Values on Family Development and related programs and services of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
Responders were also given the chance to share their testimony on their gradual transformation since their rehabilitation.
Espino said Nueva Vizcaya’s 3,394 responders accounts for the total 27,080 TRs in Cagayan Valley. He said 20,363 have already graduated from the Community-Based Recovery and Wellness Program implemented and managed by concerned national and local government agencies.
