BACOLOD City – The Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) has allocated a P5-million augmentation fund for the construction of the drug treatment and rehabilitation center (BCDTRC) in Barangay Alijis here.
Undersecretary Earl Saavedra, executive director of DDB, said on Friday the additional budget will be released this year, after the initial P10 million they provided for the project in 2018.
“That is our commitment to Mayor Evelio Leonardia in terms of putting up a state-of-the-art rehabilitation facility for drug users in Bacolod, and nearby localities, who also need intervention,” Saavedra added.
The BCDTRC will rise on the city property adjacent to the City Agriculture Office Demo Farm. It will include an administration building, male and female quarters, multi-purpose and mess building, and pavilion.
The facility will accommodate drug surrenderers with severe substance use disorder.
Meanwhile, during the groundbreaking for the P35-million drug rehabilitation center in August last year, Leonardia and DDB Chairman Catalino Cuy signed a memorandum of agreement for the release of the initial P10-million financial assistance.
The remaining fund requirement, now down to P20 million, will be shouldered by the city government.
Saavedra also urged village officials in this city to support the government’s barangay drug clearing program.
“The PDEA has already released the list of drug-affected barangays and definitely, this will be an important step in creating drug-free communities by 2022,” said Saavedra.(With a report from PNA/PN)
