In response to the campaign of the National Government against substance abuse, the City Government of Muntinlupa formally partnered with the Department of Health – Treatment and Rehabilitation Center (DOH-TRC) in Bicutan to subsidize the treatment and rehabilitation of indigent drug-dependent residents in the city.
Mayor Jaime Fresnedi signed a memorandum of agreement with DOH-TRC execs led by Chief of Hospital Dr. Alfonso Villaroman and other local officials recently at Plaza Central, Poblacion, Muntinlupa City.
Fresnedi hopes that the financial assistance from the City Government will encourage indigent drug dependents in Muntinlupa to seek medical help in resolving the adverse effects of illegal drugs.
Under the agreement, Muntinlupa LGU will be financing the seven-month treatment of first-time patients and indigent drug-dependent residents of Muntinlupa amounting to P26,250.00 per beneficiary.
The City Government shall also shoulder the expenses for the following services: laboratory services (P820.00), drug dependency examination prior to admission and prior to discharge (P1,000.00), and three months Intensive Aftercare Program (P5,400.00). Further, Muntinlupa Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Office (DAPCO) will facilitate the continuation of the aftercare program for beneficiaries following their admission to DOH-TRC Bicutan.
The local aftercare and reintegration program (Mamamayan at Pamilya Laban sa Droga – MAPALAD) consists of livelihood trainings, job placement initiatives, and continuation education in partnership with the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa and Muntinlupa City Technical Institute.
DAPCO targets to cater to at least 150 beneficiaries. Admission of patients to DOH-TRC Bicutan will begin on the second week of January 2021. Interested residents should coordinate with their Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Council (BADAC) for assessment to avail the subsidy from the local government.
Other officials attending the MOA signing ceremony were DOH-TRC Financial and Management Officer Esteban Dino, Muntinlupa Vice Mayor Artemio Simundac, City Administrator Engr. Allan Cachuela, Coun. Francis Bagatsing, and DAPCO chief PSSUPT Florocito Ragudo (Ret.).
Recently, the City Government of Muntinlupa also entered a partnership with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) through the University Research Company for the implementation of USAID RenewHealth project that aims to strengthen the city’s community-based drug rehabilitation program.
USAID RenewHealth Project seeks to address drug dependency problem by expanding access to evidence-based and culturally-appropriate community-based drug treatment and recovery (CBDR) services.
For more information, the public may coordinate with the Muntinlupa Drug Abuse and Prevention Control Office located Muntinlupa City Hall, G/F Main Building, Putatan with telephone no. 8403-6689 / 8862-2525 loc. 212.
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Latest City Government of Muntinlupa details sourced from their official media release. Some parts were edited for this website.
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