15 International Peer Reviewed Journal Level of Implementation of PNP Oplan Double Barrel in the Province of Camarines Sur: Basis in Formulating a Holistic Rehabilitation Program for Drug Surrenderees LORLIE B. TANJAY https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1585-4132 lorlie.tanjay@unc.edu.ph University of Nueva Caceres Naga City, Camarines Sur, Philippines Originality: 100% • Grammar Check: 100% • Plagiarism: 0%   ABSTRACT   In support of the Barangay Drug Clearing strategy of the Philippines, the Oplan Double Barrel program was implemented under PNP Command Memorandum Circular No. 16- 2016. The program impacted almost all sectors of the community, especially the drug surrenderees. This quantitative descriptive research evaluated the level of implementation of PNP Oplan Tokhang in the province of Camarines Sur. It determined the effectiveness of intervention strategies towards the rehabilitation of the drug surrenderees. A survey questionnaire was administered to six hundred twenty-four (624) respondents, and it was collected, analyzed, and interpreted using weighted arithmetic mean Kruskal Wallis H and Mann Whitney U test to compare the response. Data revealed that three (3) phases of Oplan Tokhang were effectively implemented. However, the problem with the scarcity of financial resources to provide health and other social services, insufficient rehabilitation personnel, and limited rehabilitation facilities are encountered. Hence, the government should increase Vol. 40 · March 2020 DOI: https://doi.org/10.7719/jpair.v40i1.769 Print ISSN 2012-3981 Online ISSN 2244-0445 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. 16 JPAIR Multidisciplinary Research budget allocation for the rehabilitation services and strengthened the holistic community-based rehabilitation towards effective oplan tokhang.        Keywords —  social science, oplan tokhang, weighted mean, descriptive- quantitative design, Camarines Sur, Philippines              INTRODUCTION   This study primarily provides the community with empirical data relevant to the extent of implementation of the PNP Oplan Double Barrel program in Camarines Sur. The program is a new anti-drug policy of the Philippines implemented under the PNP Memorandum Circular No.16-2016. It is carried out in two approaches, the Oplan Tokhang and Project High Value-Target (HVT). The study is focused only on the first operational approach (oplan tokhang) for safety consideration. The word Tokhang is a Visayan composite term (Toktok- Hangyo) that means knock and negotiate. It was implemented in three (3) phases, such as pre-tokhang, tokhang operation, and post tokhang phase. These phases highlighted the plea of the authority for the voluntary surrender of drug personalities to undergo drug rehabilitation. As the Oplan Tokhang commonly critiqued by both domestic and international communities (Purnomo, 2017), this study generated the first-hand information from the program implementers (police and anti-drug abuse councils), recipients (surrenderees) and community (media, religious group, residents) to know the real score of the program in curtailing the drug problem. It also examines the effectiveness of the tokhang on the premise of determining the surrenderee’s total rehabilitation and the relapse on illegal drugs. Since drug issue is a threat that knows no border, numerous regional and international cooperating organizations set drug policies that prohibit the illegal drug operation within and outside the border of the participating countries. Though drug policies vary according to jurisdictions, they have a common end of controlling drug supply, reducing the demand, and mitigating harms of drug abuse. Studies of Sacco and Finklea (2014), Ford and Saville (2017), Pattern (2016), and Vanni (2015) manifested the robust drug policies in reducing the use, manufacture, and trafficking of illicit drugs and drug-related crimes and violence. However, these strategies are considered ineffective in curtailing drug problems in the community. Tobias (2016) showed in his study that the Colombia anti-drug policy has been an ineffective strategy, similar to the 17 International Peer Reviewed Journal counter-narcotics efforts of Bangladesh (Bashar & Vineles, 2019), and Thailand (Sombatpoonsiri & Arugay, 2016). The ineffectiveness of the drug policy showed that illegal drugs fostered violence and has harmed economic development. Studies of Scherlen (2012) described the drug war as expensive, damaging, and ineffective. McPherson (2013) claimed that the global war on drugs has failed with devastating consequences for individuals and societies around the world. For  Wincup  (2016), drug policy in the UK has to focus on the conflation of recovery with abstinence and the displacement of the harm reduction agenda. Hence,  Hyshka et al. (2012) suggest a scientific-based approach like harm reduction services and reduced reliance on law enforcement. On this note, a need for an optimized solution, holistic treatment, and a long-term evidence-based program that considers the factors to drug use (i.e., poverty, lack of education, unemployment, poor parenting, and poor coping skills. Similarly, Ma et al. (2016) on community-based drug recovery in China; Koppak & Ho n (2014) and Forman & Sharp (2006) promotes the prioritization of dependence assessment and formulation of individualized treatment and early implementation of highly structured drug control programs in the United States of America. In India, Brashier, Sharma, and Akhoon (2016) proposed therapeutic vaccines to prevent the relapse rate from occurring among drug users. Meanwhile, in the Philippines, Hechanova,  Alianan,  Calleja, and Melgar  (2018) theorized the development of a community-based drug intervention reflective of the county’s collectivist culture, relational values, propensity for indirect and non-verbal communication, interdependent self-construal, appropriate to the Asian culture and to developing economies. Sari & Bahian (2017) suggested the increase of police officer visibility and parental guidance to reduce the spread of drug usage. The programs such as seminars and training, rehabilitation of drug surrenderees, creation of livelihood programs, provision of recreational facilities (Dulin & Guadamor, 2017), and effective counseling programs can solve the problem against drug abuse (Oluremi Fareo, 2012). Further, proper coping skills for addiction and socio-psychological aid should be extended to drug users to avoid relapse (Martinez & Guadamor, 2017).  In the drug policy of the Philippines, particularly the oplan tokhang, many have expressed their negative remark. Mariquit (2018) has called it ruthless and relentless operation surrounded by a climate of death and suffering, for Palatino (2019) the oplan tokhang resulted in a kind of social disarticulation among the residents of the communities, that caused various protests and rights campaigns against these anti-drug operations. Nevertheless, studies on the https://www.emeraldinsight.com/author/Wincup%2C+Emma https://www.cambridge.org/core/search?filters%5BauthorTerms%5D=Arsenio%20S.%20Alianan&eventCode=SE-AU https://www.cambridge.org/core/search?filters%5BauthorTerms%5D=Mendiola%20T.%20Calleja&eventCode=SE-AU https://www.cambridge.org/core/search?filters%5BauthorTerms%5D=Isabel%20E.%20Melgar&eventCode=SE-AU 18 JPAIR Multidisciplinary Research effectiveness of Oplan Tokhang concerning drug reported incidents (Eusebio, 2018); an evaluation of oplan tokhang operation in police Regional office XI (Tamayo, 2018); the role of mayors and barangay captain in the anti-drug campaign (Mendoza, Yusingco & Gamboa, 2018); and the drug surrenderers and crime statistics during the implementation of project double barrel (PDB) in the Philippines (Dio, Aposto & Madrazo, 2019), claimed that oplan tokhang brought a positive result in the drug-related crime reduction in the community. Thus, prompted this study to ascertain its level of implementation and provide fair information regarding the issue, particularly in Camarines Sur. The study also aids in the development and institutionalization of a holistic intervention and program to combat illegal drugs and strengthen the rehabilitation process of the Community Rehabilitation Networks, Anti-Drug Abuse Council across the barangay, municipal, city, and provincial levels.   OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY   The study aimed to evaluate the level of implementation of the PNP Oplan Double Barrel program in the province of Camarines Sur to serve as a basis in formulating a sustained, holistic rehabilitation program for drug surrenderees. Specifically, the study sought to (1) evaluate the level of implementation of PNP Project Tokhang in Camarines Sur in terms of (a) pre-tokhang phase, (b) tokhang period, and (c) post-tokhang period; (2) determine the seriousness of problems encountered in implementing the Oplan Tokhang; (3) to examine the level of effectiveness of the strategies adopted to enhance its implementation; and (4) to determine the significant difference in the responses of police, Provincial Anti- Drug Abuse Council (PADAC), drug surrenderees, and community members.   METHODOLOGY   Research Design The study used a descriptive quantitative approach to gather the data with the aid of a closed structured survey questionnaire. This research design was preferred in gathering the important data from the respondents since it sought to provide a systematic description, measurement, and analysis of the data, situation, or phenomenon, particularly on issues regarding the implementation of Oplan Tokhang in the locale of the study.    19 International Peer Reviewed Journal Participants To preclude bias in the study, both of the implementers, community, and recipient of the program were included. The respondent was composed of police, Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council, drug surrenderees, and selected community members from the thirty-five (35) municipalities and one (1) city of the province of Camarines Sur. There are 144 police, forty-nine (49) PADAC officials, 33 surrenderees, and 100 community members. To be included as respondents, the police must be identified as  tokhangers  (skilled and trained in tokhang operation as certified by the Chief of Police), the surrenderees must complete the rehabilitation program given by anti-drug abuse council, and for the community members, must be of legal age. The sample size of surrenderee respondents and community members was determined using the Slovin’s formula. Overall, there are six hundred twenty-four (624) respondents.    Instrumentation The primary data gathering instrument in this research is a self-made survey questionnaire. The questionnaire was divided into four (4) parts. The first part dealt with the respondents’ profile in terms of age, sex, educational attainment, and occupation. The second part was designed to determine the level of implementation of the three (3) phases of Oplan Tokhang in the province of Camarines Sur. It contained thirty-three (33) statement indicators. The third part of the questionnaire was intended to determine the seriousness of the problems encountered in the program implementation. Meanwhile, the fourth part aimed to measure the effectiveness of the twenty-one (21) intervention strategies in the implementation of the Oplan Double Barrel. The instrument used the five (5) point Likert scale with the corresponding descriptive ratings for the Level of Implementation/seriousness of problem: 1.00 - 1.80 Not implemented at all (NIAA) / Not a problem (NP); 1.81- 2.60 Barely implemented (BI) / Not a serious problem (NSP); 2.61 - 3.40 Implemented, but not consistently (IBNC) / considerably serious problem(CSP); 3.41 - 4.20 Implemented (I) / Serious problem(SP); 4.21 - 5.00 Effectively Implemented (EI) / Very serious problem (VSP). While, a four (4) point Likert scale is used on measuring the effectiveness of the  strategies  with descriptive rating: 3.26 – 4.00 – Very effective (VE); 2.51 – 3.25 – Effective (E); 1.76 – 2.50 – Somewhat Effective (SE); 1.00 – 1.75 – Not Effective at all (NEAA).  Content validity of the questionnaire was achieved after several revisions based on the comments, suggestions, and recommendations of the research 20 JPAIR Multidisciplinary Research adviser and field experts in law enforcement. After the content validation, the instruments were pilot tested to the respondents. Questions that are unclear and inappropriate were eliminated or replaced. Comments from the pilot test were incorporated into the final questionnaire.   Data Gathering Procedure Before the actual administration of the survey questionnaire, permission was sought from the governor of the province, provincial director of the PNP, and chief of police of the city/municipalities. Upon obtaining authorization, the identified respondent was contacted, and a questionnaire was personally administered to them. Available respondents had accomplished the instrument right away, while the others are scheduled for a meeting. After the retrieval of the instruments, the responses to the different items in the questionnaire were tabulated, statistically analyzed, and the report was written.   Ethical Considerations Before the data gathering, a clearance to proceed was sought from the Ethics Review Committee of the Institute of Graduate Studies and Research. Voluntariness of the respondents was considered in the research. Before soliciting their response to the study, the researcher secured first their consent to make sure of their willingness, cooperation, and voluntariness to provide appropriate answers. It guaranteed the confidentiality and privacy of the respondents through the informed consent and Privacy Impact Assessment following the pattern issued by the Institute of Graduate Studies and Research. The researcher assured that all information regarding respondents’ identity is private and protected. All of the data gathered is purely towards the development of the study and not for any legal pursuit.    Data Analysis Plan       To ensure the objectivity of research data, the following statistical tools and techniques were used: frequency, count, percentage, weighted mean, Kruskal- Wallis H test, and Mann Whitney U test.    RESULTS AND DISCUSSION                                                  Level of implementation of PNP Project Tokhang in Camarines Sur in terms of pre-tokhang phase, tokhang period, and post-tokhang period. 21 International Peer Reviewed Journal  The pre-tokhang phase was implemented in Camarines Sur. The operatives and program implementers such as the police coordinate with the barangay officials and observe the necessary preparations before the tokhang phase, particularly by identifying the drug personalities in the barangay and development of the drug watchlist. In this phase, the PNP Anti-Illegal Drugs Units also coordinate with the PDEA to assist in the conduct of investigation and verification of suspected drug personalities as listed and identified by the barangay officials. Under the Supplemental Guidelines for Oplan Tokhang, only names validated by the PNP’s Directorate for Intelligence can be added to the list. Names not confirmed are queued for further validation. In the setting of the study, the respondents manifested that the tokhang operatives are seriously following said guidelines, resulting in the smooth and proper implementation of the program. This implies that before the tokhang operation phase, all preparations were in place and ready for the service to drug surrenderees.  The pre-tokhang phase, as stipulated under CMC 16-2016, is more on investigation and validation of drug personalities, whether user, pusher, or both (drug user at the same time drug pusher), necessary for the preparation of the watchlist. Also, this is where the coordination with the different concerned agencies takes place to ensure that the tokhang operation will be safe for both drug personalities and the operatives. The DILG-DDB Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2018-01 furthers that the BADAC must identify drug-affected places and report to PNP or PDEA. However, looking at the reaction of the respondents, it scored  very low. Somehow, the barangay officials need higher regard for reporting to authorities, and their coordination must be intensified to ensure the eradication of drugs at the grassroots level. Similarly, Firesheets, Francis, Barnum, and Rolf, (2012) and Cox, Marchionna, and Fitch (2017) argued that community involvement at the grassroots level plays an essential role in combatting illegal drug use and abuse and the success of prevention efforts relies upon it. Nevertheless, the overall responses of the respondents reveal that the pre-tokhang phase in Camarines Sur is implemented by its operatives, although not consistent. In the Tokhang Operation Phase, the respondents rated it as  implemented. This phase is the actual house to house visitations, processing and documentation, and referral of suspected drug personalities duly identified and validated by the PNP and PDEA. These are the highlight of Project Tokhang, where the police knock on suspects’ homes and ask them to surrender. If the person expresses intent to surrender, they are referred to the barangay hall, ADAC office, or police 22 JPAIR Multidisciplinary Research station for interview, documentation, and other alternative action. The drug suspects are accompanied by a relative or guardian to witness the procedure. Once brought to any of those venues, the drug suspect will be asked to fill up a Biographical Profile Form (BPF). The giving of information is voluntary, and a suspect should not be forced to fill up forms like the BPF or to have his or her photo taken.  In this study, the PNP and PADAC respondents revealed that Camarines Sur effectively implements the process of voluntarily giving the information with a weighted mean of 4.40 and 4.94, respectively. In contrast, the surrenderees and community residents gave a lower rating on it. It was also noted that the wearing of body cameras was not consistent, and there is a little participation of the barangay council, human rights, media, and religious sector. Police officers said that they are only smartphones with cameras because there’s no issued camera to them, and it is only during the promulgation of the new memo from the higher headquarters that they underscored the presence of the quad officials. Nevertheless, Oplan Tokhang still values humankind, and many are amenable to the tokhang operations. As revealed in the study of Dullin and Guadamor (2017), Filipinos have a positive outlook on the illegal drug campaign programs of the PNP.  The respondents’ assessment on the level of implementation of post-tokhang operation was generally rated as implemented. This stage pertains to the monitoring of surrenderees and the evaluation of the tokhang operation. The CMC 16- 2016 directs the operatives to conduct weekly tracking of drug personalities to determine their status and whereabouts. With this, a National Anti-Illegal Drugs Monitoring Center (NAIDMC) co-located at the PNP National Operations Center was created to collate all anti-illegal drugs operation and activities of all offices/units/stations nationwide. It created a database for all these reports and submitted a summary report to the Chief PNP on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis. A similar structure was replicated at the regional, provincial, district, city, and municipal level co-located at their respective Tactical Operation Center. These centers perform identical functions as that of the NAIDMC and submit the report to their separate Regional/Provincial/City Directors and quad staff. However, if the surrenderee persists in doing illegal activities, the chief of police unit/stations and the anti-illegal drug unit in the area shall immediately initiate police action in coordination with ADACs for the lawful arrest and filing of appropriate criminal charges against them. Likewise, the PNP continuously monitor drug surrenderees who are undergoing rehabilitation program in coordination with the Department of Health (DOH), Dangerous Drugs Board, and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Also, as part of 23 International Peer Reviewed Journal the evaluation of the police, higher headquarters assess the performance of the operatives and hold the commander and police chiefs accountable for the fault of subordinates, which can be traced to the negligence of police superiors. Sharing of “best practices” from the field is conducted, and these sharing sessions are documented for future reference. The After Activity Report  (AAR) is prepared submitted to regional police. According to the PNP, residents who spot police violating any of these guidelines should immediately report the cops to police stations where they belong to or to local government officials. There is no doubt, however, that in Camarines Sur, the anti-drug operatives religiously implement the mandate of CMC16-2016. The respondents rated almost all variables with a higher weighted mean. In terms of rehabilitation, the PNP transfers the responsibility to DOH or DSWD for the community- based rehabilitation program. However, the respondents still rated the operatives’ effort quite low on the continuous monitoring of the surrenderees’ rehabilitation progress. Thus, it is inferred that the post-tokhang phase in Camarines Sur still necessitates improvement and sustainability to ensure effective implementation. As suggested by Estacio (2018), voluntary surrenderees should be treated and rehabilitated because they are not as violent and dangerous as generally reported by media and by law enforcers. They are not those types considered as beyond redemption but are capable of self-change. These statements are reflective of the national reports that 90 percent of the surrenderees are mild users. Of the three phases of Oplan Tokhang, the most observed is the post- tokhang phase, while the least implemented is the tokhang operation phase or the actual visitation and processing. Data suggest that both the surrenderees and community residents marked the operation phase considerably lower than the PADAC and police officers’ assessment, with a weighted mean of 3.87 and 3.90, respectively. This observation is influenced by the respondents’ personal experience from the hand of operatives on the onset of processing their voluntary submission to community-based rehabilitation. This calls the attention of the police, the ADACs, the community, and the policy-makers to strategize to enhance the drug clearing operations at the grassroots level. As Vanni (2015) suggested, a high level of security for the general public, health protection, well-being, and social cohesion can be done by intensifying preventive action against drug-related crimes through active cooperation and joint approach of all stakeholders, embedded into taking action against drug production, cross-border trafficking in drugs, diversion of chemical precursors used in drug production and rescue and rehabilitation of drug users. 24 JPAIR Multidisciplinary Research The seriousness of problems encountered in implementing the Oplan Tokhang Despite the objective of the Oplan Double barrel and the government’s effort on drug eradication, several issues and related problems continue to exist within the community. The study reveals that most of the serious problems are related to rehabilitation services, legality issues, lack of resources, and community support. The question on the insufficiency of rehabilitation facilities and financial resources to accommodate the influx of surrendering drug users are shared across different city and municipalities of Camarines Sur. As stated by Barcia (2016), even the DOH in Bicol encounters a problem in accommodating the vast numbers of drug surrenderees. The department needs more facilities and physicians to run the drug rehabilitation centers, especially those who are deeply affected by the effects of illegal drugs. Hechanova et al. (2018) stated that a significant challenge in implementing community-based treatment in the Philippines is the lack of resources allocated for mental health services. The country’s budget for health is only 2-3% of the national budget, and mental health is a low priority. There is also a shortage of mental health professionals as well as the disparity in their distribution. That for every 100,000 Filipinos, there is only one licensed psychologist usually located in the urban areas. Thus, a small percentage of recovering users have been screened and assessed by professionals. Similarly, Cousins (2016) said that the country is caught surprisingly by the surge of drug surrenderees. The Philippines has fewer than 50 accredited rehabilitation facilities and lacks drug counselors and doctors to assess the patients’ needs properly. It seems that the PNP, LGUs, and the DOH are not ready to implement community-based drug recovery support and handle the growing number of surrenderees due to lack of facilities, specialist physicians, and funds. Lack of educational qualification of the ADAC Council is also a serious problem in effectively managing the anti-illegal drug program. A concern raised by the respondents was the lack of community facilitators to deliver the modules. Although they reported volunteers, mainly from church-based organizations, the majority of these volunteers could not facilitate. Stakeholders noted that the current programs tended to use lectures and do not focus on skills development and adult learning methodologies. Arana (2013) also cited several problems encountered in the barangay that can hinder the successful implementation of anti-drug abuse programs. More likely, he stated that inadequate training of the barangay officials in handling administrative positions and the lack of educational qualifications are perennial problems in the barangay.   25 International Peer Reviewed Journal Level of the effectiveness of the intervention strategies adopted to enhance its implementation Geared towards the realization of the true spirit of Oplan Double Barrel, several intervention strategies are adopted by the government to end the drug problem in the community and ensure its legitimate operation. Under this premise, strategies like promulgation of different memorandum circulars, additional guidelines and directives from the concerned authorities, training for both police and rehabilitation group, and careful evaluation and accountability charged to the implementers are accentuated. There are specific strategies adopted by the PNP along with the enhancement of the Oplan Tokhang in Camarines Sur. They were developed and embodied within the various government memorandums, directives, and guidelines to ensure bloodless Oplan Tokhang in the province and the country as a whole.  As revealed in the study, the respondents perceived that those strategies are very effective in dealing with the target outcome of the program, particularly in the aspect rehabilitation of drug personalities. The conduct of sports activities was considered top among the 21 strategies. Respondents have much recognized the value of sports in the rehabilitation of drug personalities. Similarly, Olmstead (2016) believed that when people participate in sports, they are given more mental than physical health benefits, such as the ability to focus, boost self- confidence, socialize with a network of people, and acquire essential morals and values like camaraderie and goodwill. Sports help an individual achieve positive socialization which results in the effective management of one’s personality and reduces the likelihood of vulnerability to use the drug.  The implementation of the barangay-based rehabilitation program and partnership of PNP and stakeholders (both with AWM=3.51) rank 2 in the strategies implemented. The core goal of the community-based treatment is to ensure a holistic treatment of drug users. It varies according to the nature and complexity of the problems experienced by the individual. As stipulated in Guidance for Community-Based Treatment and Care Services for People Affected by Drugs in the Philippines, clients are referred to whichever community services are appropriate, based on a screening of drug problems. This approach ensures community participation and linkages to ongoing drug-use prevention and other services, which aim to reduce the harm associated with drug use in the community. The conduct of regular visits to drug surrenderees to monitor their activities and the creation of one-stop-shop facilities for the assessment, interview, counseling, referral, and processing of applicants for rehabilitation also 26 JPAIR Multidisciplinary Research got the highest rating. This means that Oplan Tokhang in Camarines Sur has tried to be compliant with rules and regulations of the government; hence, a need to further its implementation to ensure drug clear community.    The variance of the four groups of respondents’ assessments on the implementation of Oplan Tokhang, the seriousness of the problems encountered, and the effectiveness of the strategies implemented.  The result varied to a significant degree, as represented by the Asymp. Sig. Value of 0.0000 to 0.0001 in all items, which are within the maximum tolerable alpha of 0.05. This means that the responses police, PADACs, surrenderees, and community member  significantly differed  from each other. These findings are the outcome of the fact that each respondent group has unique experiences and viewpoints on the program. The police are the lead implementers who are pressured by the mandate of the laws as well as the community’s welfare. Thus, they assess Oplan Tokhang differently than the other respondents considering that they implement every aspect of the program in the very best they can. In like manner, the PADAC members whose task is to carry out the responsibilities of planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the rehabilitation services have manifested a unique perception of the program as compared to the community members and surrenderees who are the recipient of the PADACs initiatives.  The comparison of the respondents’ assessment regarding the problems encountered in implementing Oplan Tokhang is  not significantly different. This implies that the police and the surrenderees similarly viewed the seriousness of the issues considering that they both experience the hitches of Oplan Tokhang. Similarly, no significant difference in the response of the PADAC and the community residents. This manifestation is a result of the fact that the PADAC and community residents are just the secondary elements involved in the Tokhang implementation. The police officers and surrenderees considerably pointed out some aspects of the application of Oplan Tokhang as not a severe problem. However, the PADAC and community residents regarded it as a serious problem. This means that the police and surrenderees positively perceive the Oplan Tokhang, particularly the aspects of rehabilitation. Both of them assumed and are hopeful that lawful, safe, and bloodless drug war is implemented in the province. Meanwhile, the community and the PADAC view the Tokhang as severe problems, thus reminding the implementers and policymakers to be cautious in implementing the program. Perhaps, with the stated remarks of the respondents, a principle of balance could be maintained. 27 International Peer Reviewed Journal The respondents’ assessment of the level of effectiveness of the intervention strategies implemented varied to a significant degree. This indicates that most of the intervention strategies got positive responses from the respondents. The respondents believed that the implementation of the program would be of great help in attaining a drug-free community. This also connotes that the real indicators of the effectiveness of a program are measured by strict adherence to methods and implementation, subject to general guidelines, quantity, and completeness of the application, quality of the program execution, and the degree to which users are included (Kranzelic, Slehan, & Jerkovic, 2013). Sustainable and continuous support to the implementation of the program is indicative of the effectiveness of the program.   CONCLUSIONS   Despite the negative public remark on the implementation of oplan tokhang, the study revealed that the program was effectively implemented in the province of Camarines Sur. The PADAC consistently assessed the three phases of operation as effective. The intervention strategies adopted with the implementation of Oplan Tokhang are very effective, particularly the community-based rehabilitation.  However, scarcity of financial resources to provide health and social services, insufficient rehabilitation personnel, and limited rehabilitation facilities are the topmost problems encountered; therefore, it is significant to increase the budget allocation for the rehabilitation, especially on the health and social services, personnel, and facilities that must be made available and accessible to the public, particularly in the rural areas. A need also to further the surrenderees life skills to help them divert their attention away from drugs. Close coordination and capability enhancement of the BADAC and its auxiliary team, Non-government organizations, and DOH for the immediate recovery and monitoring of the surrenderees. There must be seminars and training on the lawful arrest of illegal drug culprits, collaboration with the community residents, creation of sustained livelihood programs, and provision of recreational facilities. The continued observance of the intervention strategies of the government-aligned with the Oplan Tokhang, through the memorandums issued by Dangerous Drug Board, PNP, and Department of Interior and Local Government.  Mechanisms to facilitate entry/admissions to drug rehabilitation centers should be set up, and a one-stop-shop treatment facility to encourage drug dependents to undergo treatment and rehabilitation should be established. And 28 JPAIR Multidisciplinary Research finally, it is hoped that the local government may consider the output of the study, which is a holistic barangay based rehabilitation program that recognizes the quality treatment of minds, body, and soul. The inclusion of educational, vocational, medical, psychological, and spiritual based programs, has been put forward as a means to reform drug surrenderees.    TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH   A proposed bill to enhance the implementation of the oplan tokhang has been forwarded to the authority. The bill establishes clear guidelines and specific procedures to be followed by the government agencies, law enforcement unit, anti-drug abuse councils, and cause-oriented non-government organizations in dealing with drug personalities in the barangay through a holistic rehabilitation program. 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