
PNP pushing for more drug treatment, rehab facilities
THE Philippine National Police (PNP) is pushing for the establishment of more drug treatment and rehabilitation facilities in the country amid its recalibrated strategy to combat illegal drug trafficking and abuse.
More facilities that will provide sustained medical and reformatory rehabilitation for substance-addicted individuals have been seen as a major factor that will eventually help drug users re-integrate into the society and become productive citizens anew, officials said.
The Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) said that eligible to enter the program are drug personalities who voluntarily surrendered and do not belong to the PNP and Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency’s target list, wanted list and watch list or has any other pending criminal cases; drug personalities who availed of the plea bargaining agreement under Section 15 (Use of Dangerous Drugs) of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002; and drug personalities who served jail terms for violation of RA 9165.
PNP chief, General Rommel Francisco D. Marbil earlier announced their recalibrated anti-drugs strategy which gives priority in targeting the ‘sources and supply chains’ of shabu and other prohibited substances rather than focusing on street-level pushers and users.
This approach is designed to be a more effective and less bloody campaign by putting a premium on human rights and addressing the drug problem at its very core.
Gen. Marbil characterized the drug problem as a complex issue, comparing it to the mythical Hydra, where cutting one head causes more to grow in its place.
The recalibrated strategy will involve intensified intelligence operations and stronger community engagement to identify and dismantle drug trafficking networks, the PNP chief said.
The PNP chief also said that their new strategy shift aligns with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s vision for a safer and more secure Philippines and added that this recalibrated strategy is a crucial step toward achieving that objective.
“With this approach, we are not only saving lives but also working toward a better future for our nation. We are committed to addressing the drug issue with compassion, strategy and adherence to the rule of law,” he said.
The PDEA has reported that a total of 29,016 drug personalities in 2024 became beneficiaries of government treatment, rehabilitation and intervention programs designed to transform them into productive citizens of the country.
Of the number, 25,789 Persons Who Use Drugs (PWUDs) and 3,227 drug pushers submitted themselves to the rehabilitation and reformation programs of the Marcos Jr. administration.
The drug users and dealers were residents of 1,314 barangays that were declared by the PDEA as ‘drug-cleared’ in 2024.
Of the 25,789 PWUDs, 16,494 graduated from the Community-Based Drug Rehabilitation Program and 9,063 from general intervention programs, both localized programs in the barangays, while 232 underwent the recovery process through accredited Drug Abuse Treatment and Rehabilitation Centers in the country, said PDEA spokesperson, Director Laurefel P. Gabales.
As to 3,227 drug pushers, 749 of them have graduated while 79 are still undergoing reformation under the Balay Silangan Reformation Program.
The rest have already executed their Affidavit of Undertaking, but are waiting to be accommodated.
Balay Silangan is the national drug reformation program that offers temporary refuge to drug pushers who voluntarily surrendered to authorities and plea bargainers to transform them into self-sufficient and law-abiding members of society.
General interventions in the form of health awareness activities such as counseling, moral recovery, values formation, life skills, among others, are provided under the Balay Silangan program.
Livelihood and skills training are also available to give employment opportunities to drug reformers.
Since the inception of the Balay Silangan Reformation Program in 2018, a total of 595 reformation centers have been established across the country.
Thanks to the efforts of PDEA Regional Offices and strong support from the local government units, other government agencies including the PNP and generous stakeholders, 63 of these reformatory facilities were built in 2024 alone.
Apart from strategies involving illegal drugs supply reduction and prevention, the government is putting more weight on the rehabilitation and promotion of a stigma-free campaign for drug offenders in a bid to address the drug problem, the PDEA said.
Helping drug dependents recover from the habit and creating alternative employment prospects for drug sellers to prevent them from depending on illegal drug activities, reduce their likelihood to commit crimes, the Agency added.
To break free from the cycle, the PDEA and other stakeholders of the national anti-drug campaign are giving as many opportunities as possible for drug offenders to rebuild their lives as long as they show the commitment and motivation to change, said Director Gabales.