A former drug dependent turned congressman on Thursday said the government would need to spend P257,000 per recovering drug dependent to fulfill the administration’s rehabilitation program in the war against drugs.
During the dangerous drugs committee hearing at the House of Representatives, Negros Oriental Rep. Arnulfo Teves shared his estimates on how much government would be spending for every addict who needed in-patient rehabilitation program.
The House of Representatives committee tackled the 27 proposed legislation for the creation and support of drug rehabilitation centers per province, region, city and legislative district.
Teves, who in a privilege speech admitted to be a recovering addict, said a 100-bed rehabilitation center operates with P51.5 million annually to fund its personnel services, carried out by a staff who would attend to the recovering drug dependents.
READ: Solon admits being reformed drug addict
For a rehabilitation center with a 100-bed capacity, where government would need to treat 200 recovering drug addicts for one year (100 clients for a six-month program), government would need to spend P257,500 per client (or P51.5 million divided by 200 clients) per year, Teves said.
Teves said the year-long rehabilitation cost, if there are 20,000 recovering drug dependents, would amount to P5.15 billion for personnel services alone, already way above the P3.081 billion Department of Health budget for its operation of the dangerous drug abuse treatment and rehabilitation centers for 2017 (inclusive of personnel services, maintenance and other operating expenses, and capital outlay).
“Can we afford to appropriate that funds based on our budget? P257,000 times 20,000 clients–staffing pa lang, wala pang pagkain (that’s on staffing alone, food is not yet included)–P5.15 billion for 20,000 clients. Yung buong budget buong taon, P3 billion lang, kasama na ang lahat (The whole budget for the year is P3 billion only, that includes everything.),” Teves said.
Teves recommended the outsourcing of services through the private sector so that the government could save money in rehabilitating the drug addicts.
“I’m not saying let’s not put up rehabilitation centers. We need these rehabilitation centers… P257,500 per person, lagay mo na lang mga bente mil, hindi pa kasama (put it at 20,000, that doesn’t even include the) construction cost. I don’t think the Philippines would want to spend that or even afford it,” Teves said.
During the hearing, Dangerous Drugs Board Chairman Benjamin Reyes informed the committee that there are 1.7 million to 3.7 million drug dependents in the country.
He said 715,699 drug dependents have surrendered as of Sept. 20, of whom almost 37,000 need to be admitted to in-patient rehabilitation program and treatment centers.
According to the Department of Health, there are 47 accredited residential and non-residential drug abuse treatment and rehabilitation centers nationwide. CDG/rga