AUG 11, 2016

NR # 4289B

Regional rehabilitation and treatment centers

for drug and alcohol dependents
Not losing hope on changing the lives of countless alcohol and drug dependents, a lawmaker
stressed the need to establish a Drug Abuse and Alcoholism Rehabilitation and Treatment Center in
every region of the country.
Alcoholism and drug abuse affects all sectors of society, rich and poor and regardless of
ethnicity in our country, Rep. Nancy A. Catamco of North Cotabato noted.
Catamco is author of HB 1782 which appropriates public funding for said regional
rehabilitation and treatment centers to be established through the Department of Health (DOH)
jointly with the Department of Social Welfare and development (DSWD).
Under Catamcos bill, the funds necessary for the establishment, maintenance and operation
of the regional Drug Abuse and Alcoholism Rehabilitation and treatment Centers or (DAARTC) shall
be included in the General Appropriations Act as part of the annual budget of the DOH.
As a starter, Rep. Catamco also filed a companion HB 1779 seeking to establish a DAARTC
in the city of Kidapawan, North Cotabato with its corresponding funding support provisions.
The two related measures (HB 1782 and HB 1779) are now referred to the Committee on
Dangerous Drugs for its appropriate consideration and action.
Catamco pointed out that drug and alcohol abuse affects not only the abuser himself, but
everyone around him starting from his family, to his community, and ultimately the entire nation.
She note a Dangerous Drugs Board estimates that there are 1.6 million addicts and another 1.8
million occasional drug users in the country.
While there are no available statistical data on alcohol abuse, it is inarguably prevalent in the
country, Catamco stressed.
Stressing her point, the lady lawmaker said there are slowly emerging various privately owned
and operated alcohol and drug abuse rehabilitation and treatment centers, they are still scarce and are
extremely costly.
Private rehabilitation centers, while well-meaning and admittedly seek to serve humanitarian
purposes, tend to be unreachable to low-income Filipino families owing to their almost prohibitive
costs, she added.
Catamcos bill seeks to protect public health, safety and general welfare by mandating the
establishment of public rehabilitation and treatment centers that will cater to the needs of low income
Filipinos who are victims of alcohol and illegal drugs. (30) dpt