Friends of the Philippines to build Php 700-M drug rehabilitation facility

Friends of the Philippines Foundation will build a Php 700-million drug rehabilitation center in Malaybalay, Bukidnon. (Photo by Mike Gonzalez (TheCoffee) – English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0)

MANILA—Friends of the Philippines Foundation will build a Php 700-million drug rehabilitation center in Malaybalay, Bukidnon.

According to a statement from the Department of Interior and Local Government, the memorandum of agreement for the center was signed by Cabinet Secretary Leoncio B. Evasco Jr., Health Secretary Paulyn Jean B.

Rosell-Ubial, DILG Undersecretary John R. Castriciones and FPF by Jose Kho.

The following officials were also present: Senator Juan Miguel F. Zubiri, Office of the President assistant secretary Aurora Ignacio, DILG assistant secretary Epimaco V. Densing III, Kinming Real Estate Co. Ltd. official Kitson Kho.

The company also donated the land for the facility, but the Health department will take over the operating and maintenance cost of the facility.

DILG undersecretary Ismael Sueno also lauded the donation, which will include livelihood programs, capacity building activities and skills training for the drug dependents. It will also have a sports and recreational center, and a training center for medical practitioners, health workers and volunteers.

Currently, there are 44 existing DOH-Accredited Treatment and Rehabilitation Centers (DATRCs), 16 government and 28 non-government facilities. It could hold 6,000 patients.