The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
By Leilani S. Junio / Philippines News Agency
The construction of a Chinese-funded, 10,000-bed mega drug treatment and rehabilitation center for drug dependents in Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ejica province is almost done and will become fully operational by early November, the Department of Health (DOH) said last week.
According to the DOH, the facility will house drug surrenderers who were found to be needing treatment and rehabilitation in order to bring them back to society as productive citizens.
The facility’s construction is in line with the mandate of the government to enhance its campaign against illegal drugs and upon recognizing the current demand for more drug rehabilitation centers for surrenderers who will need in-patient treatment.
“We are expecting that half of this facility is ready for occupancy by Oct. 17, but the patients for rehabilitation and treatment will not be transferred until November because of the needed furnishings,” Health Secretary Dr. Paulyn Jean B. Rosell-Ubial said at a press briefing at the DOH Media Relations Unit in Tayuman, Sta. Cruz, Manila, last Wednesday.
A partial turnover of 2,500 beds was to be made on Oct. 15, while the turnover for the remaining 7,500 beds will happen on Nov. 16.
The construction of the center began in July, Dr. Ubial said, adding that she went to Beijing in September to sign a deed of donation with a man she identified last Wednesday as Chinese billionaire and philanthropist Huang Rulun.
Ubial also said the donor, who has invested in 20 five-star hotels and 10 shopping malls, discussed earlier with President Duterte how he could help in the government’s drug-treatment and rehabilitation campaign.
The total cost of the facility’s construction, or the amount of the donation, was not known.
“The right wing of the building, which can accommodate almost 1,000 in-patients and offices, is now ready to be furnished. Construction of the left wing of the building and the female dormitory is underway,” the health secretary said.
Dr. Ubial said the DOH Regional Office in Central Luzon is expediting the recruitment of personnel for the facility.
She added that training for the personnel who will manage the facility and in the community-based rehabilitation program was held from Aug. 2 to 16 as part of their preparations for their work in managing the facility.
“DOH has trained more than 2,000 frontline healthworkers for outpatient and community-based programs,” Dr. Ubial said.
She added that the latest data from the Philippine National Police (PNP) showed that more than 732,000 drug personalities have surrendered and are being assessed if they are fit for treatment and rehabilitation.
“Only about 1 to 2 percent of the drug surrenderers need residential drug rehabilitation [in-patient] treatment. The rest will be referred either to a community-based or an outpatient rehabilitation program,” the health chief said.
According to her, the government’s goal is to establish two mega treatment and rehabilitation centers in Luzon, one in the Visayas, and one in Mindanao.
The budget for the human-resources complement is included in the 2017 budget.
Dr. Ubial said local government units (LGUs), particularly barangay, municipal or city officials, will handle the community-based rehabilitation program.
It is estimated that 90 percent of drug users will be under the community-based program, which will operate in collaboration with nongovernmental organizations, interfaith groups, and volunteers.
There are currently 44 DOH-accredited drug-abuse treatment and rehabilitation centers in the country. Fifteen of these facilities are government-owned that can only serve about 5,300 in-patients, which is insufficient to serve the number of surrenderers needing in-patient treatment.
During the briefing, Ubial emphasized that a drug user or dependent is not the enemy.
“They are the illegal drug-abuse victims. They are the victims of drug pushers. We will really help them. This initiative will not only benefit the well-being of these drug victims, whom we want to help and reach out to, but also for the change that we envision for our country. Let us work together toward this vision of ‘All for Health Toward Health for All,’” she said.
For his part, Health Undersecretary Gerardo Bayugo said the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) has approved the drafting of a P10,000 benefit package for the rehabilitation of drug dependents.
Health Assistant Secretary Elmer Punzalan, meanwhile, said the facility will operate based on the standards older rehabilitation centers have been operating.
“We will use the same standards… Those who can pay will actually be charged,” Punzalan said.