Atotal of 22 public residential drug treatment and rehabilitation centers (TRCs) run by the Department of Health (DOH) will be getting a total of P1.8 billion next year.
To sustain their operations and increase their bed capacities, Rep. Michael Defensor of Anakalusugan said the operating budget of these 22 TRCs is included in the proposed P5.024-trillion General Appropriations Act of 2022.
Citing Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) statistics, Defensor said in a statement last Sunday that over 5,000 new drug abusers without counting readmissions and outpatients are being admitted to TRCs every year.
Under the law, Defensor said that with the help of their families, drug abusers may voluntarily seek admission to any of the DOH-run centers as long as they pass a dependency test.
“Families also have the option to petition for the compulsory rehabilitation of household members who are known drug abusers,” he said.
Drug abusers apprehended with small quantities of illegal substances may also be subjected to compulsory rehabilitation in lieu of a jail term, which may be suspended by a trial judge pending treatment, according to Defensor.
The TRCs that have secured budget next year include the following: Argao, Cebu RC (P84.8 million); Bataan RC (P68 million); Bauko, Mountain (Province TRC (P4.4 million); Bicutan RC (P193 million); Cagayan de Oro RC (P77.3 million); Camarines Sur RC (P74.1 million); Caraga RC (P66.3 million); Cebu City RC (P58.7 million); and, Central Luzon Centers for Health Development (P73.7 million). Others are: Dagupan RC (P98.4 million); Dulag, Leyte RC (P73.2 million); Isabela RC (P62.4 million); Las Piñas Drug Abuse TRC (P6.4 million); Malagos, Davao TRC (P13 million); Malaybalay, Bukidnon TRC (P17.5 million); and, the Malinao, Albay RC (P69 million).
More centers are: Pototan, Iloilo RC (P67.6 million); San Fernando, La Union TRC (P13 million); San Francisco, Agusan del Sur TRC (P17 million); Soccsksargen Drug Abuse TRC (P13 million); Tagaytay RC (P108.7 million); and, the Zamboanga City TRC (P8.4 million).
Defensor added that an additional P112.6 million for the operations of the centers will also be available at the DOH’s central office.
On top of their operating budgets, the lawmaker said the 22 centers would also receive an aggregate of P390 million in new capital outlay to increase their bed capacities.
“The bulk of the new money for more beds will go to the centers in Tagaytay (P120 million), Bicutan (P40 million) and Bauko (P35 million), which is the youngest facility,” Defensor said.