PALAYAN CITY, Philippines – The first batch of the so-called mega drug rehabilitation center, consisting of 53 persons including a barangay captain, successfully graduated after six months of cleansing and treatment at the center inside Fort Magsaysay, Palayan City, on Saturday (August 5).
Of the 53 graduates 33 were from Batangas City.
Health Secretary Pauline Ubial, guest of honor at the send-off, said the mega drug rehab center can only care for at least 2,000 persons instead of 10,000 patients as reported in the media previously.
This year, the government expects to operate seven other drug rehabilitation centers in the country, Ubial said, adding they will be putting up 13 more. Five of the 13 already being constructed in Region 9, Socsargen, Mimarop, Caraga, and the National Capital Region.
She added that because donations have been coming in for the building of eight of the centers, the budget for these can be realigned to other programs.
The Nueva Ecija rehab center was inaugurated by President Rodrigo Duterte in November last year, and was funded by Chinese billionaire Huang Rulun.
