DOH eyes PHP1.2B to expand drug rehab in Eastern Visayas

TACLOBAN CITY, April 21 -- The Department of Health is eyeing a PHP1.2 billion budget to build and expand drug rehabilitation centers in Eastern Visayas in three to five years.

Teresita Cajano, chief of the DOH-Treatment and Rehabilitation Center (TRC) Eastern Visayas said the Regional Development Council last month endorsed PHP600 million of the proposal for release in 2018.

“Half of the proposed budget will be acquisition of properties. The remaining, which will be released starting 2019, will be for the construction of buildings,” Cajano told reporters on Friday.

The health department is pushing for the expansion of the existing 100-bed DOH-TRC facility in Dulag, Leyte. The plan is to build bigger dormitory to be able to accommodate high risk female drug dependents.

“We don’t have an existing treatment and rehabilitation center for females. Those who need admission are being referred to Cebu, Albay or Taguig,” Cajano added.

Part of the development plan is to set up laboratory equipment inside the existing center.

The government will also build drug rehabilitation complex in Naval, Biliran and Catarman, Northern Samar. The compound will house a re-entry center and aftercare building to facilitate re-integration of patients to the community.

Last year, the DOH-TRC completed the PHP30 million reconstruction of its facility badly damaged by super typhoon Yolanda in 2013. It has a 50-bed capacity, but as of this week, the center has only 23 patients.

“We cannot force the drug dependent to undergo rehabilitation. It’s up to the person and their families to decide, but we have to help them appreciate the value of recovery,” Cajano added.

After the completion of PHP1.2 billion projects, the region will be able to accommodate one percent of the 33,525 self-confessed drug personalities in the region. 

Citing studies, the DOH official said one percent of total number of drug users need to go through rehabilitation inside a center ranging from six months to a year.

Eastern Visayas consists of the provinces of Biliran, Eastern Samar, Leyte, Northern Samar, Samar, and Southern Leyte, and the cities of Baybay, Borongan, Calbayog, Catbalogan, Maasin, Ormoc and Tacloban, the regional center. (PNA)
SARWELL Q. MENIANO