Pubdate: Sun, 13 Jan 2008
Source: Manila Times (Philippines)
Copyright: 2008, The Manila Times
Contact:  http://www.manilatimes.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/921
Author: Ernie B. Esconde, Correspondent

SOME REGIONS HAVE NO DRUG REHABILITATION CENTERS YET

PILAR, Bataan: The Dangerous Drugs Board over the  weekend revealed 
that three or four regions in the  country have no drug training and 
rehabilitation  centers yet as mandated by Republic Act 9165.

Health Undersecretary Edgar Galvante, also the drugs  board's
executive director, did not identify the  regions. He said the new law
on anti-illegal drugs  requires all provinces to have at least a drug
rehabilitation center each to be jointly run by the  board and local
government units.

Galvante added that Central Luzon has two drug centers.  One that
rehabilitates drug dependents in Region 3 is  located in Magalang,
Pampanga. The other, the Bataan  Drug Training and Rehabilitation
Center, in Liyang,  Pilar town, will open early this year.

He said the drugs board lacks funds to comply with RA  9165 and needs
support of provincial governments.

Rep. Albert Garcia of Bataan's Second District said the  drug
rehabilitation center in Pilar is the first to be  built in the
country under the law. He added that the  center held ground-breaking
in May 2006.

Galvante, during an inspection of the Bataan center,  discussed with
Garcia and Pilar Mayor Carlos Pizarro  plans to make the center fully
operational in 2008.

The Bataan center sits on 2.1 hectares where the former  Kabataang
Barangay cluster of buildings built by then  KB president Imee Marcos
stood. The area was renovated  for more than P22 million.

It was learned that the drugs board has released P17  million for the
center located at the foot of historic  Mount Samat and near Dunsulan
Falls.

Two big rooms, one for male and another for female drug  patients, can
accommodate at least 50 beds.

"The drug-dependents have hope, a second chance once  rehabilitated in
this Bataan center with our programs  of making them productive during
their stay here. We  look forward to seeing them totally off the hook
on  illegal drugs and not rejected by society," Galvante  and Garcia
said.
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MAP posted-by: Steve Heath