THE National Government is spending P135 million in 2021 for the operations of Cebu’s two public residential drug abuse treatment and rehabilitation centers, Cebu Rep. Eduardo Gullas, House appropriations committee member, said on Sept. 13, 2020.
In the proposed P4.5-trillion national budget for 2021, Gullas said the Argao, Cebu Rehabilitation Center has been allocated P83 million for its operations, up 22 percent from P68 million this year.
Meanwhile, the Cebu City Rehabilitation Center has been allotted P52 million for its operations, up 21 percent from P43 million this year.
Both centers are run by the Department of Health (DOH).
“Families should encourage their members who are drug users to voluntarily seek admission to either of the two centers,” Gullas said.
“Otherwise, families may petition for the compulsory treatment and rehabilitation of their members who are drug users,” he added.
Under the law, Gullas said drug users apprehended with small amounts of prohibited substances may be required to undergo treatment and rehabilitation, instead of a jail term.
“While going through mandatory treatment and rehabilitation for not more than six months, the jail sentences of drug users may be suspended by the trial judge,” the lawmaker pointed out.
Gullas said the DOH is spending P1.3 billion in 2021 for the operations of 22 public residential drug abuse treatment and rehabilitation centers across the country, including the two in Cebu.
The other facilities and their operating fund portions in 2021 are as follows: