Southern Mindanao has new rehab center

DAVAO CITY, Philippines – A municipal drug rehabilitation center in New Corella, Davao del Norte has been converted into a regional center to serve more residents addicted to drugs and alcohol.

With the conversion, the management of the Luntiang Paraiso Rehabilitation Center will now be run by the Department of Health (DOH) instead of the provincial government.

The center currently serves 81 patients from different parts of Mindanao who are addicted to drugs and alcohol.

The patients undergo rehabilitation for at least six months, depending on the gravity of their condition.

Luntiang Paraiso executive officer Gabriela Logronio said the management of the center has been turned over from the provincial government to the DOH on Oct. 9.

Logronio said the transfer would be fully implemented in June 2016.

“The salaries of the personnel are still shouldered by the provincial government as we are undergoing a transition period,” she said.

The conversion is part of a move to establish a regional rehabilitation center with a 100-bed capacity, in compliance with Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act.