IN PURSUIT of promoting safe and equal health services to the persons who use drugs (PWUDs) and recovering drug dependents (RDDs), the Department of Health-Davao Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Center (DOH-DATRC) and the local government unit (LGU) of San Isidro, Davao Oriental signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) held at the MARCC, David Consunji Government Complex, San Isidro.
“This is for us to have a productive environment and of course to our overall well-being,” Dr. Reagan Joseph Villanueva, DOH-DATR Davao Chief Hospital, said.
The agreement forges stronger collaboration between the two agencies for screening, treatment, recovery, and family support sessions, awareness and prevention education, drug-free workplace assistance, and aftercare and reintegration for PWUDs in San Isidro.
The partnership allows the DOH-DATRC-Davao to cater to referrals of inpatient admissions, both mandatory and voluntary in nature, for a minimum of six months up to one year of treatment and rehabilitation, from the Municipality of San Isidro. The municipality will also be the one to provide financial assistance which will partially cover the admission cost of the patients, especially those who are categorized as indigents.
Around 100 municipal employees including its functionaries underwent drug testing, where as of writing, the DOH-DATRC and San Isidro LGU have yet to release their results for confidentiality.
The MOA signing was led by DOH-DATRC Davao Chief of Hospital Dr. Reagan Joseph Villanueva together with Chief Health Program Officer Zander Von Baylon, while Mayor Marie Angelica Go led the LGU of Nabunturan with Vice Mayor Panylin Acido and members of their Municipal Anti-Drug Abuse Council.
The development and support of drug abuse treatment and rehabilitation centers in the Philippines was made possible through the Republic Act (R.A.) 9165, often known as "The Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.”
In October 2016 through Executive Order No. 4, the DOH-DATRC Malagos, Davao City was established. With a land area of 19,909.81 sqm, it was donated by Resorts World Philippines Cultural Heritage Foundation Inc. under a Deed of Usufruct from the City Government of Davao and the provision of equipment duly funded by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (Pagcor) through a Memorandum of Agreement with the Department of Health. The facility was dedicated to the people of the Davao Region. DEF