Bacolod gets additional P5M for drug rehab center

By: Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City – The Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) turned over a check for P5 million to the city government here as additional fund for the establishment of the drug rehabilitation center.

DDB cashier Melanie Castillo turned over the check to city officials headed by Mayor Evelio Leonardia.

The P5 million is in addition to the P10 million earlier released by the DDB to Leonardia through Secretary Catalino Cuy.

The center will cater to Bacolod drug surrenderers with severe substance use disorder and can accommodate 50 patients.

It is now about 75 percent complete and may be operational by 2020.

Castillo said Bacolod is the only city with a treatment and rehabilitation center in Western Visayas.

She said the DDB decided to put up a center here since it is supportive of the programs of the national government.

“The DDB is also mandated to establish treatment and rehabilitation centers in every region. Its new project is community-based treatment and rehabilitation program in every local government unit,” Castillo said.

Meanwhile, Executive Assistant Samuel Montoyo Sr. said the rehab center is located on a 2-hectare property of the city government in Alijis village.

Montoyo said the center is composed of the administrative building, the male and female dorm, and mess hall.

The facility’s personnel include a dentist, a medical doctor, a psychiatrist, a psychologist, five registered nurses, 12 medical staff and Public Order and Safety Office guards.

The city allocated P20 million to the project for a total funding of total of P35 million, including the DDB funds.