Monday, July 19, 2004
Cebu City Council gives P500T to drug rehab center
AROUND four months after the previous City Council expressed reservations on giving over P500,000 as annual financial assistance to a drug rehabilitation center, the 10th Cebu City Council last week agreed to donate the amount.
The memorandum of agreement (MOA) between City Hall and the PNP-Cebu Center for the Ultimate Rehabilitation of Drug Dependents (Cebu-Curred) now includes provisions that ensure the money is used properly.
Among others, the MOA stated the City Government “shall require quarterly or yearly financial and physical status reports as it deems necessary” aside from monitoring and verifying the center’s financial records.
Also, Cebu-Curred “shall not use the funds for money market placement, time deposit and other forms of investment not related to the program.”
Last March 17, Councilor Sylvan Jakosalem first introduced a resolution authorizing Mayor Tomas Osmeña to enter into a MOA that will give P566,767 to Cebu-Curred, formerly the Drug Rehabilitation and After-Care Center.
But Councilor Gerardo Carillo voiced his concern, saying he learned the center is collecting P2,500 or more a month from each patient, and wondered what was the use of the financial assistance.
Carillo, then vice chairperson of the committee on dangerous drugs, said the City Government is already subsidizing the electricity and food of the facility’s patients.
That, he added, left him wondering why the facility is still collecting money from patients for so-called “lodging fees.”
That prompted the council to have the ordinance deferred.
Vice Mayor Michael Rama also asked Jakosalem, then committee on dangerous drugs chairman, to raise the council’s concerns with center director Eutequio Vibal.
Last Wednesday, Jakosalem again introduced the resolution, with some changes in the MOA.
Aside from the City’s assistance, Cebu-Curred is also expected to receive P10 million as assistance from the Office of the President.
Jakosalem earlier said the money will be used to finance the rehabilitation of impoverished drug dependents, as stated in Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. RHM
(July 19, 2004 issue)
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