In an effort to strengthen community-based drug rehabilitation, the City Government of Isabela, in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), conducted a Yakap Bayan Program Orientation for the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BADAC) Members of Isabela City. The event, held on September 3, 2025, at the Sangguniang Panlungsod at the City Hall Complex, was attended by BADAC members and barangay captains from the city’s 45 barangays.
The program began with an opening message from Ms. Nor Aina Asmara, who highlighted the crucial role of key community actors in supporting Recovering Persons Who Used Drugs (RPWUDs). Representing City Mayor Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman, City Administrator Peter Eisma delivered a message of support, emphasizing the city’s commitment to a rehabilitation-centered approach. Eisma stressed the importance of replicating the Yakap Bayan Program in Isabela City to create a more inclusive community and ensure that services reach every barangay. City Vice Mayor ArJhemar Ajibon was also present to show his support.
The orientation was led by DSWD Field Office IX’s Yakap Bayan Focal Person Leah Abuy and alternate focal person, Ms. Jeleen Piskal. The speakers provided a comprehensive overview of the program’s holistic framework, covering key topics such as aftercare interventions, relapse management, and family engagement strategies. This deepened the BADAC members’ understanding of the Yakap Bayan Program and its role in fostering a supportive network for RPWUDs within their communities.
Mr. Datu Abdulhier Jalani, the CSWD YBP Focal, delivered a closing message, stating that the success of the Yakap Bayan Program rests with them. He urged the BADAC members, as frontliners, to transform what they’ve learned into tangible action, building a more compassionate and drug-free Isabela City where no one is left behind. The orientation covered several key components, including life coaching, skills training, fitness therapy, capacity building or CSAR, and livelihood support.
