ANGELES CITY- With scores of families broken nationwide by the scourge of drug and alcohol abuse amid lack of redemptive options, Bridges of Hope, a comprehensive facility for various kinds of drug-related cases, has opened at the Nepo Center in this city.
Liza Mapua, executive director of Bridges of Hope in Angeles, said she had worked for the establishment of the facility here following the successful rehabilitation of her drug-influenced daughter at Bridges of Hope facility in Paranaque City.
The facility covers all aspects related to drug or alcohol abuse, including marital therapy, phychological and psychiatric tests, psychotherapy, weekly counseling sessions, among other services towards full rehabilitation, Mapua noted.
Mapua said the local facility, the fourth to be established in the country, could accommodate from 120 to 150 residents in six air conditioned dormitories, and features a wide, secured activity center and other amenities for the residents.
Other Hope facilities are located in New Manila in Quezon City, Mandaue City in Cebu and BF Homes in Paranaque City.
Gino Gomez, senior program director of the national Bridges of Hope Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation, Inc. cited three stages to recovery of those dependent on drugs or even just alcohol.
“The first is intensive phase where the resident goes into detox before joining. Then time is given to reflect on one’s past along with the program philosophy, to be followed by evaluation and official entry into the program,” he said.
The second stage, he said, is “reintegration, wherein the resident starts to gain privileges and opportunities to apply learnings from the intensive phase, as well as work out issues with family members through dialogues and counseling.”
“The third is aftercare, wherein the resident is exposed to full spectrum of family and social life as they are fully reintegrated into their family and society,” Gomez also said.
During the blessing ceremonies for the Bridges of Hope here, Mapua disclosed what motivated her to establish a facility located at 32-7 Flora Ave. extension at the Nepo Center here.
“MY daughter was crazed on drugs and even suicidal. I looked for a facility all over Central Luzon, and I found none that was good enough for my daughter. But when I saw Bridges of Hope in Paranaque, I was convinced that was it. That was where I got back my daughter,” she recalled.
Mapua said she had prayed for guidance in her decision to have a Bridges of Hope facility established in Angeles, amid lack of adequate and comprehensive facilities for people hooked on drugs and alcohol.
The cost of rehabilitation was estimated to be about P25,000 monthly, to include professional services and other basic needs of residents.
