Residents of Luntiang Paraiso Regional Rehabilitation Center for Drug and Alcoholic Dependency receive livelihood training on candle-making, product packaging, labeling, and costing, courtesy of the office of the Provincial Administrator’s Office-Cooperative and Investment Development Division, in partnership with the Employment and Workforce Development Division (EWDD), last May 23, 2023 in New Corella, Davao del Norte.

Also, in cooperation with the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), the skills upgrading aims to provide alternative source of income for the residents of the facility, who have been victims of drug abuse and alcoholism. The training will form part of the rehabilitative approach to enable the residents to change for the better, and be a productive citizen of the community.

A short opening program was facilitated by the PADO-CIDD in the morning, with Mr. Joseph Rey Lacia giving the message of gratitude and inspiration for the facilitators and the residents, respectively. Ms. Maria Consuelo Encarnacion facilitated the training on Candle-Making, thru the assistance of Ms. Juliet Baruiz, of PADO-EWDD. Ms. Gemma O. Caasi, DMO II, of PADO-CIDD shared her expertise on Product Packaging, Labeling, and Costing. She was assisted by Ms. Merly Mapanao, and Mr. John Lolo.

The Luntiang Paraiso is a facility that focuses on therapeutic community approach for drug rehabilitation. It was converted into a regional rehabilitation center in 2015, from merely a municipal rehabilitation center, with a 100-bed capacity, in compliance with Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.

A total of sixty-five residents of the Center benefited from the training, only five of whom are female.