Drug Surrenderees Found Diversion by Growing Sunflowers in Pinamalayan

Local police in Pnamalayan, Oriental Mindoro suprised motorists this week with free sunflowers.

Thee long-stemmed flowers were harvested from the Sunflower Garden run by the Pinamalayan Municipal Police (MPS).

Police Chief Inspector Alvimar Flores, the Officer-In-Charge of the Pinamalayan MPS, said the garden is actually an important part of their recovery and wellness program for drug surrenderers who assisted in planting flowers.

Flores said gardening gave drug surrenderees a diversion that keeps them on the path of rehabilitation.

Aside from gardening, part of the RWP for the drug surrenderees is the participation in the lectures from experts both from non-government and local governments within a three-month period.

Flores said Pinamalayan MPS is sincere in helping the drug surrenderees get back to their communities.

He got the idea of putting up the garden from his farm experience in Bacolod where the Sunflower made considerable impact in his home province.

The flowers grew up within 45 days.

Started in January with 1,000 flowers planted, visitors are taking time in making their best selfies at the Sunflower garden now fast becoming an attraction in the town.

Flores said they are targeting to produce more flowers in time for the town fiesta on April. (LP/Mimaropa)