Palace: EU aid for drug rehab centers aligned with PHL’s anti-illegal drugs policy

Malacañang on Monday expressed its gratitude to the European Union (EU) for committing €3.8 million or about P241.6 million to fund drug rehabilitation centers in the country, saying it was aligned with the Duterte administration's "holistic" approach to curbing illegal drugs.

"We thank the European Union likewise for offering 3.8 million Euros aid to fund the drug rehabilitation centers in the country," presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in a press briefing, adding the aid will be a "big boost" in the government's campaign to rehabilitate drug dependents.

"That being said that EUs’ desire to support our drug rehabilitation centers runs parallel with the Duterte administrations holistic approach to the drug problem by treating it not just a national security issue but a public health concern as well including rehabilitation and reintegration of the drug dependents," Roque said.

The aid is part of the fresh €260-million development assistance intended for the Philippines and is primarily for the Mindanao peace process, jobs creation and renewable energy projects. It will be channeled to the Department of Health. 

President Rodrigo Duterte has repeatedly lambasted the EU for attaching conditions on its assistance, such as imposing human rights regulations in exchange for money, prompting him to reject the bloc’s €6-million aid last year.

EU, which raised concerns over alleged state-sanctioned killings in the Philippines' anti-narcotics campaign, is one of the country’s top donors and is a major trading partner.

"The President as we all know is amenable to accepting any aid but without any unilateral conditions. He will reject, as he did in previous occasions, offer of assistance with any condition that would interfere with our domestic policies," Roque said. —KBK, GMA News