ASIDE from the one in Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, the Department of Health (DOH) is now looking at establishing three more mega drug treatment and rehabilitation center in other parts of the country in a bid to cope with the growing number of drug surrenders in the country.
In a press briefing, Health Secretary Paulyn Ubial said they want to have a total of four large drug rehabilitation and treatment facilities to keep up with the government's war against illegal drugs.
"The goal is really to establish two mega treatment and rehabilitation centers in Luzon, one in Visayas and one in Mindanao," said Ubial.
DOH Undersecretary Gerardo Bayugo said they are set to expand their existing facility in Pilar, Bataan from being a 100-bed capacity facility to 200 beds.
"We already have a facility there that only needs to be expanded," said Bayugo.
As for the Visayas, Ubial said they are looking at establishing the facilities either in Capiz or Bohol also inside military camps.
In Mindanao, the health chief said they are eyeing a possible building of a rehab center either in Saranggani or Bukidnon, still inside military camps.
Meanwhile, the DOH said the one in Nueva Ecija is already set to open next month and is expected to house drug surrenderers from Luzon.
“Weeks after the foundations were laid, building structures gradually took shape and, now, almost 50 percent of the facility has been constructed, particularly the right wing of the building. The Mega Rehabilitation Center is expected to be in full operation on the first week of November,” said Ubial.
By the end of October, she said the left wing of the building and the female dormitory are expected to be finished.
She said partial turnover of 2,500 beds are set to be made on Saturday, October 15, while the rest of the 7,500 beds will be turned over on November 16.
Ubial said the DOH regional office in Central Luzon is already expediting the recruitment of the manpower for the drug rehab facility to complete their 900-strong personnel.
“All permits such as the Environmental Compliance Certificates (ECC), and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) have already been facilitated,” said Ubial.
Expected to become the first occupants of the facility are those from the over populated DOH drug rehabilitation facility in Bictuan, Taguig City, which already has 1,000 patients.
“We are already talking to them on who would want to voluntarily transfer to the Mega Drug facility,” she related.
In addition, the DOH is expecting to house some of the 732,115 drug surrenderers, who surrendered in the ongoing “Oplan Tokhang” of the Duterte administration.
“Only about 1-2 percent of the drug surrenderers need residential drug rehabilitation (in-patient) treatment. The rest will be referred either to a community-based or an outpatient rehabilitation program,” said Ubial. (HDT/Sunnex)