House panel approves bill seeking to train rehabilitated drug dependents

Hope in Recovery House Panel Approves Bill to Train Rehabilitated Drug Dependents

The House Committee on Higher and Technical Education has taken a significant step towards empowering individuals who have overcome drug dependency by approving a bill aimed at providing targeted training and livelihood programs for rehabilitation graduates.

In a statement, Tingog Party-list Rep. Jude Acidre, the committee chairman, expressed his gratitude to the panel members for their swift action in approving House Bill 4699. This measure, co-authored by Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, seeks to address two key challenges faced by individuals who have completed rehabilitation programs social stigma and finding dignified work.

The stigma surrounding drug dependency often prevents individuals from seeking help, and once they do complete a rehabilitation program, the practical hurdle of finding employment can be overwhelming, Acidre explained. This bill aims to break down these barriers by providing training that leads to competitive job opportunities and incentives for companies to hire graduates.

Under the proposed legislation, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (Tesda) will work in coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to design and implement technical-vocational education and training programs tailored to rehabilitated drug dependents. These programs will focus on providing market-ready skills that can lead to wage employment or small enterprise.

The bill also tasks DOLE with providing incentives to companies that employ graduates of these Tesda programs, further increasing the chances of successful rehabilitation and reintegration into society.

By institutionalizing targeted training and livelihood programs for rehabilitated drug dependents, this measure has the potential not only to change individual lives but also to contribute to a healthier and more productive society as a whole.

I made the following changes

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