Quisumbing bill seeks creation of rehab center

CEBU, Philippines – Cebu Sixth District Rep. Gabriel Luis Quisumbing has filed a bill creating the Cebu Provincial Drug Dependent Rehabilitation Center.

Rep. Quisumbing said it is the policy of the State to safeguard the physical, mental and social well-being of its citizenry especially the youth from the destructive conse-quences of dangerous drugs proliferating in our streets.

Drug dependents, according to Quisumbing are not criminals but fallen victims of drug abuse and it is necessary to provide effective mechanisms to re-integrate them into society through sustainable treatment and rehabilitation.

Citing Section 51 of Republic Act 9165, the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Law, Quisumbing said it provides local government units to appropriate a substantial portion of their respective annual budgets to assist in giving priority to preventive or educational programs and rehabilitation of drug dependents.

He said there is a need to establish a provincial drug rehabilitation center with the sole purpose of treatment and rehabilitation of drug dependents.

The sixth district solon said that there is also a need for the provincial government to carry out an intensive and all-out support to giving priority to preventive rehabilitations and treatment of drug dependents and help them restore their personal imbalance, social adjustment, physical, moral and spiritual build-up, and social awareness in order to live another productive life through multi-disciplinary method of management.

The Provincial Drug Dependent Rehabilitation Center, according to Quisumbing is a non-stock, non-profit, province-owned and operated rehabilitation center, which pro-vides care, treatment, and accommodation drug dependents who are fallen victims of dangerous drugs.

Under House Bill No. 2375, a drug dependent or any person who violates Section 15 of Republic Act 9165 or by court order, may by himself/herself or through his/her parent, spouse, guardian or relative within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity, apply to the center or its duly recognized representative for treatment and rehabilitation of the drug dependency.  (FREEMAN)