Drug rehab center to rise soon in Bulacan

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Assistant Secretary for Public Safety Florencio Bernabe Jr. announced that a Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Center (DATRC) will soon rise in Bulacan.

Provincial Public Affairs Office chief Katrina Anne Balingit told The Manila Times that the facility is expected to impact the lives of illegal drug dependents and help the community in its effort to curb illegal drug dependency.

DATRC is one of the effective mechanisms in reintegrating individuals into the society through sustainable programs of treatment and rehabilitation, according to Bernabe.

Bernabe, at the same time, invited the Bulakenyos to participate in the program of DILG dubbed as “BIDA-Buhay Ingatan, Droga’y Ayawan,” a yearround advocacy program which aims to raise awareness and encourage participation from all sectors of the community in drug demand reduction.

The assistant secretary also lauded the leadership of Gov. Daniel Fernando and Vice Gov. Alexis Castro for having a functioning Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) with complete emergency response equipment and tools, such as the newly purchased disaster response vehicle, fire suits, boots, helmet, gloves, hoses and nozzles, AED (automated external defibrillator), body monitor and self-contained breathing apparatus, to name a few, as well as reliable and welltrained emergency responders.

Meanwhile, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Regional Director Chief Supt. Roy Roderick Aguto reminded the public to be prepared for any unexpected fire incidents by staying safe and to have a list of emergency numbers ready and easily accessible to ensure help right away.

March had been designated as Fire Prevention Month to provide awareness and education about preventing fire incidents.

For its part, the PDRRMO, headed by Manuel Lukban Jr., has lined up different activities in line with the observance of Fire Prevention Month including preparatory coordination meeting; province-wide distribution of IEC (information, education and communication) materials from March 1-31; Radyo Kapitolyo’s Bulacan Rescue Program hosting at the Provincial Public Affairs Office every Tuesday at 9 to 10 a.m.; conduct of fire safety inspection in coordination with the BFP at the Provincial Capitol building and other government agencies; Oplan Lakbay Alalay in Divine Mercy Shrine in Marilao, Kapitangan, Paombong and Malolos Cathedral in the City of Malolos from March 27-31; Nationwide Simultaneous Earthquake Drill in San Ildefonso on March 25; and PGB Fire Marshalls Quarterly Meeting at the PDRRMO Training Room on March 26.

The PGB-PDRRMO, BFP, DILG, other local government units and partner agencies kicked off the launch of Fire Prevention Month with a motorcade and conducted the oath taking of Bulacan Fire Fighter Volunteers during flag ceremony on Monday, March 4.

Prior to this, Basic/Advance Fire Fighting with Hazardous Materials Trainings was held in Olongapo City from February 26 to March 2 and Kaalaman at Kahandaan ay Katatagan sa Kalamidad Training last February 23 in Hagonoy, Bulacan.

Fernando urges the public to always take extra precautions to prevent fire incidents as the Bulacan PDRRMO had recorded 129 fire incident emergency responses in 2023.