AS 60,000
self-confessed drug users surrendered to the Philippine National Police in the
past month with the implementation of the anti-illegal drugs drive
"Operation Tokhang," drug rehabilitation facilities are now in short
supply.
With this
development, Senator Vicente Sotto III has filed a bill making drug
rehabilitation more affordable.
Sotto
filed Senate Bill 8, which proposes that Philippine Health Insurance
Corporation (PHIC), beneficiaries who are drug dependents and who submit
themselves to treatment and rehabilitation to an accredited health care
provider shall be charged with a reasonable and affordable cost.
Sotto's
bill seeks to amend the Republic Act 7875, an Act instituting a National Health
Insurance Program for all Filipinos and establishing the Philippine Health
Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) for the purpose was amended by Republic Act
9241.
This
amendment highlighted the inclusion of drug abuse and dependency treatment as
among those personal services covered. It also recognized rehabilitation
centers as health institutions that are considered as health care providers.
"One
of the pervading social ills at present is the rampant drug addiction. Various
laws have been passed to prevent and control this drug menace. What has been
overlooked however and has not been properly addressed is the rehabilitation of
drug dependents," Sotto said.
Sotto
believes that the problem of illegal drugs and drug abuse cannot be solved by
law enforcement alone but instead it should be accompanied with preventive
education, prosecution and rehabilitation.
Sotto
added that the government should also provide facilities and medical treatment
to ensure their complete recovery and eventual social reintegration.
All over
the Philippines, across the regions are private and government-run
rehabilitation centers. However, based on a 2009 survey, there are 1.7 million
drug dependents. Of this, only 2000 underwent treatment and rehabilitation. The
cost of treatment and rehabilitation discourages families of drug dependents to
avail of the same.
The
constitution mandates "that the State shall adopt an integrated and
comprehensive approach to health development which shall endeavor to make
essential goods, health and other social services available to all the people
at affordable cost."
The bill
further proposes amendment to specifically include rehabilitation treatment as
among the enumerated categories of personal health services to ensure its
beneficiaries of affordable rehabilitation treatment.
This bill
also calls for the application for accreditation of Rehabilitation Centers in
order that PhilHealth members will be accorded the proposed benefits.
Senator
Cynthia Villar, for her part, has suggested the training of drug users who
surrendered to learn farming from farm schools to rehabilitate them.
"We
have heard a lot of testimonies coming from individuals whose lives have
changed after participating in free trainings on agriculture. This is also a
livelihood opportunity for drug users who want to start anew," Villar
said.
Villar
said after signing an affidavit that they will not go back to illegal drugs and
undergoing counseling or rehabilitation, drug suspects can also become
beneficiaries of government scholarship on agriculture.
Villar
cited the Duran Farm in San Ildefonso, Bulacan. Its owner, Desiree Duran, have
started talking to mayors to offer scholarship slots on agriculture especially
for drug users who want to change and become productive citizens.
The
3.6-hectare Duran Farm is the first accredited Farm Tourism Site in Central
Luzon. It gives a 2-month certificate course on agriculture production. Duran
said after it became a destination for "agri-turistas," the community
was revitalized and businesses such as sari-sari stores, dormitories, and
canteens, grew in the area.
"We
welcome people from all walks of life in our farm. We want to show the people
that a job in agriculture is profitable," Duran said.
No comments:
Post a Comment