Pubdate: Sun, 13 Jul 2003
Source: Manila Times (Philippines)
Copyright: 2003, The Manila Times
Contact:  http://www.manilatimes.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/921
Author: Jefferson Antiporda, Reporter
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/area/Philippines (Philippines)

GMA SAYS RP TO BE FREE FROM DRUGS BY 2010

THE government will set up regional drug rehabilitation centers to
make the country drug-free by 2010, the Dangerous Drugs Board said on
Saturday.

At a meeting in Malacanang Efren Fernandez, executive director of
the board, presented to President Arroyo several strategies on how to
reduce the demand for illegal drugs and the planned treatment of
victims by setting up more rehabilitation centers.

Fernandez cited a five-point strategy-a treatment rehabilitation
program, prevention and education programs, drug substitution
programs, court diversion programs and broad social policies to
mitigate factors contributing to drug use.

Treatment and rehabilitation, which aim to facilitate abstinence,
reduction in frequency or amount of use, will be carried out through
rehabilitation centers all over the country.

Among the areas being considered for the rehabilitation centers are
Vigan City in the Ilocos region; Tuguegarao, Cagayan in Cagayan
Valley; Magalang, Pampanga, in Central Luzon; Batangas in Southern
Tagalog; Iloilo in Western Visayas; Cebu in Central Visayas; Leyte in
Eastern Visayas; Camp Abendan, Zamboanga City, in Western Mindanao;
Cagayan de Oro in Northern Mindanao; Davao del Norte in Southern
Mindanao; General Santos City in Central Mindanao; Surigao in the
Caraga region; Parang, Cotabato, in the Autonomous Region in Muslim
Mindanao; and the expansion of the Bicutan center in Metro Manila.

Military camps like Upi in Isabela, Cagayan Valley; Aquino in Tarlac;
Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija; Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal; and Nakar in
Quezon are also being considered as sites for the centers.

The Dangerous Drugs Board and the Department of Health have drawn up
regulations in the establishment of drug testing laboratories and
rehabilitation centers.

President Arroyo admitted that the government's failure to curb
illegal drugs in the country accounts for the increase in the number
of drug dependents.

Speaking before the parents and relatives of drug patients in a
briefing at Malacanang, the President said the drug problem has
worsened owing to the government's lack of capability to enforce the
law, push for rehabilitation and give proper education.

"I want to apologize to all of you [relatives] for the government's
lack of capability to fight drugs, leaving your loved ones defenseless
against illegal pushers," she said.

But the President assured them that with her personal leadership and
attention to the problem, the government can strengthen the antidrug
campaign that would eventually eradicate drug trade and drug use in
the country.

"To be a strong republic we must have a strong institution that can
execute good policies," she stressed.

The President said one of the problems encountered in the past was
execution. "We have laws but a very small budget to support our
antidrug campaign. "That is why I have allotted P1 billion, or 10
times higher than what the government has given in the campaign
against drugs in recent years."

With the new campaign, she added, the government can now prevent the
proliferation of drugs, arrest drug traffickers and provide
rehabilitation and aftercare to the victims.
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake