Church to partner with gov’t in putting up drug rehab centers

Interior Assistant Secretary Epimaco Densing III says the planned rehab centers will target those who are only “experimenting” with drugs. (Photo from Densing’s Facebook page)

The Catholic Church, though highly critical of extrajudicial killings linked to the Duterte administration’s war on drugs, has agreed to work with government in putting up at least 20 community-based drug rehabilitation centers in Metro Manila, Interior Assistant Secretary Epimaco Densing III said on Tuesday.

The project will be funded both by the government and the church and will be replicated throughout the country if it succeeds in Metro Manila.

“I met with (Manila Auxiliary) Bishop (Broderick) Pabillo two or three weeks ago and we agreed that we should work hand in hand to fast track the establishment of community-based rehab centers that are church-based,” Densing said. “So, the parish itself will be the rehabilitation center. We hope that if we become successful, all other church-based or faith-based organizations can follow suit all over the country.”

These “outpatient” community rehabilitation centers will target the “90 percent of the 1.1 million drug surrenderers” who are only “experimenting” with illegal drugs.

“The clientele here are the experimenters or those who take drugs once a week or once a month. Those who are not yet hooked,” he said.

Densing said the Church would provide the personnel to run the centers while the government could fund the project through the barangays.

“The parishes will also hold fundraisers for the centers which we will put up immediately,” he said. “The only way for government to win the war against drugs is for everybody in our country to be involved. So, if the Church, the private sector, and local government units are involved, I’m quite sure we will win the war against drugs.” /atm/rga