2 Cebu rehab centers to get P135 million budget

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu First District Representative Eduardo Gullas said yesterday that the national government has appropriated P135 million for the operations of two public residential drug abuse treatment and rehabilitation centers here.

Gullas, a member of the House appropriations committee, said the amount is part of the proposed P4.5-trillion national budget next year.

The Cebu Rehabilitation Center located in the Municipality of Argao has an allocation of P83 million for its operations which is higher by 22 percent compared to its budget of P68 million this year.

The Cebu City Rehabilitation Center has been allotted P52 million for its operations which is up by 21 percent from this year’s P43 million.

“Families should encourage their members who are drug users to voluntarily seek admission to either of the two centers,” said Gullas in a statement.

Otherwise, the veteran lawmaker and former Cebu governor said that families may petition for the compulsory treatment and rehabilitation of their members who are drug dependents.

Both centers are operated by the Department of Health.

Aside from the two drug rehabilitation centers, Gullas said the DOH will be spending a total of P1.3 billion in 2021 for the operations of the 20 more public residential drug abuse treatment and rehabilitation centers in various parts of the country.

Under the law, Gullas pointed out that drug users apprehended with small amounts of prohibited substances may be required to undergo treatment and rehabilitation instead of a jail term.

“While going through mandatory treatment and rehabilitation for not more than six months, the jail sentences of drug users may be suspended by the trial judge,” Gullas further said. — GMR (FREEMAN)