Duterte Administration To Construct P700 Million Drug Rehabilitation Center In Malaybalay, Bukidnon

A PhP700-million drug rehabilitation center will soon rise in Malaybalay, Bukidnon with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and two other government agencies and the Friends of the Philippines Foundation (FPF) recently.

The signatories in the MOA were Cabinet Secretary Leoncio B. Evasco, Jr. for the Office of the Cabinet Secretary (OCS), Secretary Paulyn Jean B. Rosell-Ubial for the Department of Health (DOH) and Undersecretary John R. Castriciones for the DILG, while FPF was represented by Mr. Jose Kho.

On the other hand, present during the ceremonial signing were Cabinet Secretary Evasco, Assistant Secretary Aurora Ignacio from the Office of the President, Assistant Secretary Epimaco V. Densing III for the DILG, Kitson Kho of Kinming (Xiamen) Real Estate Co. Ltd., as well as Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri, who is a native of Bukidnon.

In a statement, DILG Secretary Ismael ‘Mike’ D. Sueno lauded the FPF and the City Government of Malaybalay for being effective ‘partners for change’ by financing the construction of a drug rehabilitation center in Bukidnon, and for donating a parcel of land for the rehab facility, respectively.

“I have repeatedly said that the fight against illegal drugs is not the government’s alone. This is our fight as much as it is yours. I therefore appreciate the efforts of groups like the FPF and the Malaybalay City Government for going the extra mile to help solve the country’s drug woes,” said Sueno.

The soon-to-be built rehabilitation center will provide services such as livelihood programs, capability building activities and skills training for the recovering drug dependents.

Aside from this, the facility will also have sports and recreational center for the drug users as well as a training center for medical practitioners, health workers and volunteers of the taskforce DATRC.

Under the MOA, the FPF shall bear all the costs relating to the design and construction of the Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Center (DATRC) in Bukidnon.

The DOH, on the other hand, shall be responsible for and shall bear all costs relating to the operation and maintenance of the DATRC.

According to Senator Zubiri, Malaybalay was chosen to house the projected rehabilitation center as it is equidistant from the various progressive cities in Mindanao.

He also said that Bukidnon is at the center of Mindanao, so the establishment of the rehab center is a guarantee that all cities in Mindanao will be catered.

Presently, there are 44 existing DOH-Accredited Treatment and Rehabilitation Centers (DATRCs), 16 Government and 28 non-government facilities.

These facilities can only accommodate a total of 6,000 patients.

As of January 16, 2017, a total of 1,155,819 drug personalities have surrendered, eight to ten percent of whom will need to be committed to a drug facility.

Executive Order No. 04, series of 2016, signed by President Rodrigo Duterte, mandates the creation of an inter-agency taskforce to be chaired by the DILG Secretary for the establishment and support of DATRCs.

Source: DILG.Gov