Public drug rehab centers need bigger bed capacities, says solon
At A Glance
- The Department of Health (DOH) should upgrade the bed capacities of its public drug rehabilitation centers as a way to address the country's illegal drug problem, according to Quezon City 4th district Rep. Marvin Rillo.
Quezon City 4th district Rep. Marvin Rillo (Facebook)
The Department of Health (DOH) should upgrade the bed capacities of its public drug rehabilitation centers as a way to address the country’s illegal drug problem, according to Quezon City 4th district Rep. Marvin Rillo.
In a statement on Sunday, Feb. 25, Rillo said the DOH’s Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Centers (DATRCs) are often overcrowded, resulting to lengthy admission waitlists.
“If we want to succeed in suppressing the demand side of our illegal drug problem, we have to improve public access to DATRC services,” the lawmaker said.
“We would urge the DOH to prepare a more aggressive plan to augment the number of beds in existing DATRCs so that funding may be included in the 2025 national budget,” he added.
Rillo, a member of the House Committee on Appropriations, said the DOH is spending P1.58 billion to operate the DATRCs under the 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA).
The health department will have an additional P409 million in combined capital outlay to upgrade and expand their facilities, he said.
“We are ready to endorse bigger funding in 2025 to increase the beds of existing DATRCs, and to build new centers if necessary in regions where there is growing demand for their services,” noted Rillo.
The DOH currently operates 23 DATRCs in 14 regions of the country.
Under the law, a drug dependent may, by himself/herself, or through his/her parent, spouse, guardian, or relative within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity, voluntarily seek admission to a DATRC.
Any person arrested, and who is found positive for illegal drug use after a confirmatory test, also faces compulsory six months minimum rehabilitation in a DATRC.
According to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), the government confiscated around P10.41 billion worth of illegal drugs in 2023. More than 27,000 barangays have been cleared of narcotics and 56,495 suspects were arrested in anti-illegal drug operations.