Crowded Davao drug rehab center may decline new admissions
July 21, 2016 | 7:08am
DAVAO, Philippines -- Davao City's Drug Rehabilitation might decline future admissions due to overcrowding.
Dr. Gene Gulanes, manager of the Davao City Treatment and Rehabilitation Center for Drug Dependents, said that the center receiving more patients in the previous month because of intensified police operations against illegal drugs here.
"The center can only accommodate a maximum of 100 residents for the existing three dormitories. We currently have an excess of 14 and a couple more coming as per court order. It's getting crowded here," Gulanes said.
There are currently 114 patients undergoing treatment at the rehabilitation center, 27 of them are residents of Davao Oriental and provinces of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Apart from problems with space, Gullanes also said the center's budget will not be enough for everyone since the rehabilitation offers all services free of charge.
In June, the center only had 80 patients.
"The number suddenly increased this month, a spike attributed to the series of surrenders of drug personalities following an intensified anti-drug campaign of the Duterte administration," Gulanes said.
Gulanes added that the center may refuse future admissions.
"Should we continue to be swamped with court orders for more admissions of clients from outside the city, I would probably be forced to write back the court and respectfully decline," he said.
Meanwhile, Davao City Councilor Diosdado Mahipus, committee head on Peace and Public Safety, plans to put up a livelihood training institute for drug suspects who surrender to authorities.
Mahipus said he will propose the project at next week's regular session with the reason that, "the number of surrendering drug suspects continues to increase." He said the city "should be ready to accept them (drug suspects) into the mainstream, providing them livelihood and jobs as part of their rehabilitation."
Mahipus also said the training center will not only function for drug suspects but also for out-of-school youth who are interested.
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