DOH earmarks P3 billion to rehab drug surrenderers

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Health has allocated a sizeable amount of funds for the rehabilitation of drug surrenderers.

Health Secretary Paulyn Jean Rosell-Ubial said the government is allocating P3 billion next year for the rehabilitation and treatment of drug surrenders amid the intensified campaign against illegal drugs.

 The budget was five times higher than the current allocation of P600 million, said Ubial.

Ubial, who was in Cebu City yesterday, said that included in the allocation is the construction of rehabilitation center and mega treatment facility. Unfortunately, Cebu was not among the areas identified for the construction of drug rehabilitation centers. 

"Sa Cebu mukhang wala kasi ang target are the mega treatment and rehab centers in military camps. So ang na-identify dito sa Region seven ay Carmen in Bohol. Kasi military camps, kasi siguradong sa gobi-yerno yong lupa and there is parang security problem," Ubial explained.

She said that rehabilitation facilities will be constructed in Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Region 12, MIMAROPA (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan), Cordillera Administrative Region, and Negros Island Region.

The mega treatment facilities will be built in Nueva Ecija and Bataan in Luzon, Carmen in Bohol or Capiz in Iloilo for the Visayas, and Saranggani in Mindanao.

Ubial said they allocated huge budget for the rehabilitation and treatment considering the number of drug personalities who surrendered since the government started the intensified campaign against illegal drugs.

She said that the P3 billion budget for drug rehabilitation is part of the total P144 billion proposed budget of the DOH next year. (FREEMAN)