The first of four phases of the 10,000-bed Mega Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Center in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija is set to open on November 29.
Interior Undersecretary John Castriciones said the inter-agency task force tasked to oversee the establishment of drug abuse treatment and rehabilitation centers nationwide is now in the thick of preparations for the planned launching next week.
“While the government and our law enforcement agencies are striking hard on drug lords and coddlers, we have a soft heart for drug users and dependents who are the victims of this drug menace,” he said.
“With the opening of this facility, the government is fulfilling its promise to assist and help those who are willing to mend their ways,” Castriciones added.
He said the first phase of the mega drug rehab center covers 2,500 beds.
“This is part of the President’s directive to build at least two rehab centers in Luzon, one in Visayas, and one in Mindanao with the long-term goal of having at least one in every province,” Castriciones added.
There are only 16 DoH-accredited government drug rehabilitation centers operating in the country, and the increasing number of patients is straining the capacity of such facilities and their personnel beyond their limits.
Since July 1, under the PNP’s anti-drug campaign Oplan Tokhang, policemen have visited 2,626,126 houses which resulted in the surrender of 751,703 drug suspects.