The Department of Health (DOH) – MIMAROPA (Oriental/Occidental Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan) recently led the groundbreaking ceremony of the MIMAROPA Regional Drug Rehabilitation and Treatment Center which will be located at the Municipality of Bansud in Oriental Mindoro attended by the provincial and local government on July 8, 2017.
“This 600M facility which can serve more than 500 patients will serve as the prime rehabilitation and recovery center for drug surrenderers of the five provinces of MIMAROPA. It will serve to augment the on-going community-based rehabilitation that are being facilitated by provincial and local government units,” Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo explained.
“We need to strengthen our capabilities to handle severe drug addiction cases although most cases can be treated in out-patient centers, not all of these drug surrenderers can be admitted to community based-rehab programs. Those that will be assessed and needing in-patient rehabilitation will only be admitted to the rehab center. That is why they must undergo the screening and assessment process,” he explained.
The Dangerous Drugs Board lists a total of 50 drug treatment and rehabilitation centers across the Philippines: 47 are residential while 3 are out-patient center.
According to Janairo, there are currently 15 DOH-Accredited physicians who handles the drug rehabilitation programs in MIMAROPA; 6 in Palawan; 3 in Marinduque; 3 in Romblon; 2 in Occidental Mindoro; and 1 in Oriental Mindoro.
As of June 30, 2017, there are a total of 20,910 drug surrenderers in MIMAROPA with a total of 7,805 screened and assessed. Oriental Mindoro holds the record with the highest number with a total of 9,563 drug surrenderers and 4,361 screened and assessed; second is Palawan with 5,260 surrenderers and 1,279 screened; third is Occidental Mindoro with 3,770 and 1,315; fourth is Romblon with 1,401 and 89; and lastly Marinduque with 916 and 761, respectively.
There were 39 successful graduates of the DOH-MIMAROPA Advance Intensive Care Treatment and Out-Patient Rehabilitation program in Calapan City in partnership with non-government organizations and the Calapan City Government.
In Bongabong, Oriental Mindoro, 50 successfully recently completed the program in partnership with NGOs and the municipal government and the Philippine National Police of Bongabong.
“We need all the support of everyone to be able to addressed the needs of these drug surrenderers to lessen and eventually eliminate the consumption and trade of illegal drugs in the country,” he concluded.
