TRECE MARTIRES CITY, Cavite –The Department of Health (DOH) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will spearhead the groundbreaking for a 5-hectare rehabilitation facility in Osorio village here on Thursday.
DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III and Region IV-A Director Eduardo Janairo will lead the DOH contingent with Cavite Governor Jesus Crispin Remulla, 6th District Representative Luis A. Ferrer IV and city mayor Malandres G. De Sagun; with Japanese Ambassador H.E. Koji Haneda and JICA Chief Representative Yoshio Wada gracing the occasion.
The rehabilitation facility is part of the “Programme for Consolidated Rehabilitation of Illegal Drug Users (CARE) Project” funded by the Government of Japan (GOJ).
The facility is in line with the signed 1.85 billion yen grant agreement between JICA and the Philippine Government for the CARE Project.
According to JICA, “the (CARE) program will provide the fiscal support required for the establishment of treatment and rehabilitation facilities, the improvement of rehabilitation programs and other initiatives for illegal drug users, thereby strengthening the medical treatment system and medical policies for illegal drug users overseen by the Department of Health of the Philippines and mitigating the illegal drug problem in terms of medical care.”
The Duterte administration’s “war on drugs” and rehabilitation program yielded a large number of illegal drug users, which prompted the DOH to license 44 rehabilitation facilities around the country to help in the needed medical and health interventions.
The JICA-support project is expected to boost the government’s anti-illegal drug campaign by establishing rehabilitation facilities in the country.
The Cavite facility is expected to be operational by 2020. (PNA)
