MANILA, Philippines -- The Dumaguete city government is looking for a site for a rehabilitation center for around 700 residents who have come forward in the government's campaign against illegal drugs and for thousands of others from Negros Oriental, a community paper there reported.
According to a report on the Negros Chronicle, this development comes as police chiefs in Negros Oriental reported that close to 10,000 drug users across the province have surrendered and have promised to stop doing drugs.
Senior Superintendent Jovy Atanacio, city police chief, said that the surrender rate has been slower in Dumaguete because most drug users and pushers are still in a "wait-and-see" mode.
He said that barangay chairpersons, police and other stakeholders estimate there are around 5,000 drug users and pushers in the city, which had a population of 120,883 in the 2010 census.
He said the police are giving the drug users and pushers "all the chances" to turn themselves.
Across the province, the Sibulan police station reported the most drug 'surrenderees', with 1,028 drug users turning themselves in between July 1 and July 26. The Basay police station reported the fewest, with 63.
Meanwhile, the Bais City police station reported that 78 people turned themselves in as drug pushers in the same period, the highest across the province.