Guv pursues referral system for Nueva Ecija mega rehab
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Pampanga Governor Lilia “Nanay” Pineda is pursuing a continues referral system for the country’s largest rehab center to accommodate more drug surrenderers set to undergo reformation pr ogr am.
Pineda said the Mega Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Center (MDATRC) in Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija has a 10, 000 bed capacity and currently houses some 300 patients, 40 of whom are from Pampanga.
Through the referral system, she said more drug surrenderers from the province will get proper treatment and rehabilitation.
The 11-hectare facility was built to accommodate drug addicts who are willing to surrender to the government.
The governor made the statement during Friday’s (May 26) consultative meeting at the Kingsborough International Convention Center, here, where more than 200 attendees from the different health municipalities, mostly barangay health workers, chiefs of hospitals and other organizations were p r esent .
Dubbed “Enhancing the Health Managem en t in Pampanga- a collaborative effort,’’ the meet highlighted the progress on health and medical condition of the Dalan Pamagbayudrug surrenderers. It also aimed to maintain effective alignment of rehab programs at grassroots l evel s.
Dr. Leonita P. Gorgolon, Department of Health Director IV Region III, urged the concerned parties and individuals to work better and collaborate with other authorities in order to successfully achieve its goal.
“We need to put our full attention on our role on how we can properly deliver and report drug surrenderers in our community. And we should work closely together with the PDEA so our records tally with theirs,”she sai d.
Gorgolon stressed that Pr esi d en t Duterte is serious on his all-out war against drugs and corruption while making sure that government services are made accessible to the poor and marginalized sector.
The rehabilitation for drug surrenderers is free of charge for indigents and as well for those with referrals from the local government.
Pineda, meanwhile, encouraged the barangay health workers to promptly report any suspected drug users and drug peddlers in their respective community to prevent reports of “tanim-droga’’ incidents.
( Press Release)