Duterte creates task force on establishment, support for drug rehab centers

President Rodrigo Duterte has backed up his rhetoric on building drug rehabilitation centers across the country, including those in military camps.

The President signed on October 11 Executive Order No. 4, creating an inter-agency task force that will oversee the establishment and support of such facilities.

The Interior Secretary shall head the task force while the Health Secretary as well as the chairman of the Dangerous Drugs Board will be the vice chairpersons.

The members of the task force are the Social Welfare and Development Secretary, Budget Secretary, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency director general, and a representative of the Office of the President.

The EO was issued “to provide effective mechanism s o r measure s t o re-integrate into society individuals, who have fallen victim t o drug abuse or dangerous drug dependence, through sustainable programs of treatment and rehabilitation.”

As of Friday early morning, the Philippine National Police has recorded a total number of 751,933 surrenderers.

However, the Department of Health only has 16 government-accredited drug rehabilitation centers in the country.

EO No. 4, moreover, provided for the establishment of drug rehabilitation centers in military camps.

The first rehabilitation center inside a camp will be a China-funded construction in Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija expected to operate in November. —NB, GMA News