CITY Health Officer Rodelin Agbulos said they are searching for an ideal place to put up a rehabilitation center for thousands of drug surrenderees in Zamboanga City.
Agbulos said one of the places they are considering is the Vitali Technical Vocational School (VTVS), which is located at Sitio Mialim in the village of Vitali, 83.99 kilometers east of this city.
Agbulos, who heads the Task Force Cambio Vida (Change Lives), said he would seek the permission of Mayor Ma. Isabelle Climaco-Salazar to use the VTVS as a temporary rehabilitation center.
The local government has designated Agbulos to head the task force it has activated to handle the rehabilitation of the drug personalities who surrendered to the local police authorities.
The Zamboanga City Police Office reported that 7,953 drug personalities, including 402 pushers, have surrendered through Project Tokhang in this city.
The Philippine National Police launched the Project Tokhang (Toktok-hangyo or knock and plead) in line with the anti-drug campaign President Roderigo Duterte is spearheading.
Agbulos said the Department of Health (DOH) informed him that there is already funding allocation to be given to local government units for the operation of rehabilitation center.
Agbulos said the DOH will immediately download the funds to the local government once a drug rehab site has been identified for the construction of the needed facilities. (Bong Garcia/Sunnex)