Davao City Rehabilitation Center for Drug Dependents Manager Dr. Gene Gulanes says they are concerned over the possible overcrowding and budget problems of the rehabilitation center as the number of admissions increases. (City Information Office)
DAVAO CITY — Authorities at the Davao City drug rehabilitation center are worried that they could not accommodate the growing number of clients.
In a press release from the City Information Office, Dr. Gene Gulanes, manager of the Davao City Treatment and Rehabilitation Center for Drug Dependents (DCTRCDD), said the center can only accommodate a maximum of 100 people.
He said the center located in Barangay Bago Oshiro, Tugbok District here, currently has at least 114 clients “and the budget is depleting.”
The center also accepts people from outside the city from as far as Davao Oriental and provinces of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
Currently, there are 27 non-Davao City residents undergoing treatment at the rehabilitation center.
Gulanes said they only had around 80 residents last month. But with the ongoing anti-illegal drugs campaign of the new administration, the number of those admitted in the center also increased.
The center also houses 35 minors, seven of whom are girls.
“So far, there are still available beds after we made some adjustments in terms of accommodations,” Gulanes explained. “We’ve pulled out extra beds from the female dorm since there are fewer female residents.”
The center offers drug rehabilitation services for free. It also provides food for the residents — also free of charge. But with the overcrowding of the center, Gulanes said they may refuse future admissions.
“Should we continue to be swamped with court orders for more admissions of clients from outside the city, I would probably be forced to write back the court and respectfully decline,” he said.
Based on the records of the Police Regional Office 11 as of 5:00 am of July 16, 2016, there are already 23,774 drug users who surrendered in Davao Region, with 2,360 surrenderees were recorded by Davao City Police Office; 3,195 in Davao del Sur; 657 in Davao Occidental; 9,522 in Davao del Norte; 6,667 in Compostela Valley province; and 3,982 in Davao Oriental.(davaotoday.com)
