SO THAT it could be managed more efficiently, the Provincial Government will turn over the management of a reform center in Pinamungajan town to the Department of Health (DOH).
Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia made the pronouncement on Monday, Aug. 19, 2019, after Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama suggested the establishment of a common jail facility outside of the city to address congestion woes at the Cebu City Jail and the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center (CPDRC).
Part of Rama’s proposal is to use the existing jail facilities in Barangay Kalunasan as rehabilitation centers for drug surrenderers instead.
“He did call me up about it and pushed forward the idea. I did not comment yet and anyway, he said ‘think about it’. I did not comment yet about moving the CPDRC. On the subject of rehabilitation or turning that into rehab centers, it all depends on who will manage and operate it. I think you should know that we’ve already reached an agreement with the DOH as regards the rehab center that was turned over by Globe (Telecom) to the Provincial Government. As I told you, that (managing rehab center) is not our expertise. The DOH was all too willing to accept the facility. They will manage and facilitate it and Globe, whom we have informed, was also willing,” Garcia said.
Globe turned over Project New Life Center to the Province last July 19 to help address the growing need for treatment and care for drug surrenderers.
Located within the Jose Maria Borromeo Memorial District Hospital compound, the 2,600-square-meter facility has a 106-bed capacity with open spaces and a recreation room. It is expected to be fully operational by the fourth quarter of 2019.
Aside from Project New Life, the Capitol might also turn over the management of certain facilities to the Department of Social Welfare and Development. Garcia, though, begged off from going into detail pending discussion on the matter.
“I don’t think that we should really add another burden to the Cebuano taxpayers in operating and maintaining and spending for facilities such as those. We’re already spending so much in maintaining 2,500 inmates at the CPDRC. I think we should focus first on our mandate and responsibilities. Spending on other facilities, which is not really our primary responsibility is, for me, not so judicious use of Province funds which we could spend better in a way that could really benefit our constituents in the towns and barangays,” Garcia said. (RTF)