Part of National Budget for 2020: P111 million for Cebu rehab centers

CEBU, Philippines —  The Department of Health is getting P1.2 billion in fresh funding to operate 21 public residential drug treatment and rehabilitation centers across the country, including two in Cebu.

Anakalusugan Partylist Representative Michael Defensor, vice chairperson of the House Committee on Health, said the Argao, Cebu Rehabilitation Center will get P68 million while the Cebu City Rehabilitation Center will get P43 million.

The budget will come from the P4.1 trillion national budget for 2020.

Nineteen other rehabilitation centers will also get funding:

• Bicutan Rehabilitation Center (P171 million)

• Las Piñas Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Center (P12 million)

• Dagupan Rehabilitation Center (P86 million)

• San Fernando, La Union Treatment and Rehabilitation Center (P12 million)

• Isabela Rehabilitation Center (P58 million)

• Central Luzon Centers for Health Development (P121 million)

• Bataan Rehabilitation Center (P57 million)

• Tagaytay Rehabilitation Center (P91 million)

• Camarines Sur Rehabilitation Center (P56 million)

• Malinao, Albay Rehabilitation Center (P55 million)

• Pototan, Iloilo Rehabilitation Center (P52 million)

• Dulag, Leyte Rehabilitation Center (P60 million)

• Zamboanga City Treatment and Rehabilitation Center (P12 million)

• Cagayan de Oro Rehabilitation Center (P63 million)

• Malaybalay, Bukidnon Treatment and Rehabilitation Center (P12 million)

•  Malagos, Davao Treatment and Rehabilitation Center (P12 million)

• Alabel, Sarangani Treatment and Rehabilitation Center (P12 million)

• CARAGA Rehabilitation Center (P57 million)

• San Francisco, Agusan del Sur Treatment and Rehabilitation Center (P12 million)

 A supplemental P55 million for the operations of the centers would also be available at the DOH’s central office, Defensor said.

"At present, drug abusers, with the help of their families, may voluntarily seek admission to any of these centers. Or they may be compelled to seek treatment in these centers,” Defensor said in a statement.

He said that under the law, families have the option to petition for the compulsory rehabilitation of a member who is a known drug abuser.  Defensor said drug abusers caught possessing small quantities of illegal drugs may also be subjected to compulsory rehabilitation in lieu of a jail term.

While they undergo compulsory treatment for not more than six months, their jail sentences may be suspended by a trial judge, according to Defensor.

Earlier, Defensor urged Vice President Leni Robredo, the country’s new anti-drug czar, “to concentrate on suppressing the demand side of the drug problem by sending as many abusers as possible to compulsory treatment.”

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, with the help of other agencies, is presumed to be already forcefully addressing the supply side of the drug problem by running after big-time traffickers, Defensor pointed out. JMO (FREEMAN)