PDEA, QC gov't partner to provide shelter for solvent-sniffing kids

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Quezon City government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to provide shelter for children who were hooked into solvent abuse.

Sagip Batang Solvent Reformation Center is the first residential reformation center of PDEA for solvent sniffing children which aims to save kids, aged 10 years and below, from drug use and other related activities.

In the shelter, rescued children will undergo a program that will develop them into productive and responsible citizens.

PDEA Director Aaron Aquino said the program provides rescued children with reformative care and interventions such as education, counseling, values formation, skills development and entrepreneurship.

Aquino believes that education and skills training are the permanent solution to address the problem of poor families who are getting involved in drug activities due to lack of livelihood opportunities.

“It is about time we have a rescue program solely designed for children to keep them off the streets for good,” he said.

The shelter includes bedroom, kitchen, comfort room, entertainment room, library, multi-purpose hall, music hall, garden, playground, and also, security and staff to take care of the facilities.

On Monday, the agreement was formalized through a ceremony attended by Aquino and Quezon City Vice Mayor Maria Josefina Belmonte at a rehabilitation center in Novaliches.

Sagip Batang Solvent Reformation Center will be supported by PDEA for a year, and eventually, by the local government unit or a non-government organization.

PDEA is eyeing to create more batang solvent reformation center in different areas across the country. —Joviland Rita/LDF, GMA News