COTABATO CITY — To provide comprehensive abuse treatment and rehabilitation services to drug dependents suffering from the effects of harmful substances, some members of the Bangsamoro Parliament have filed a bill seeking to establish drug abuse treatment and rehabilitation centers in the region.

The proposed Parliament Bill 152 would serve as government residential and non-residential drug abuse treatment and rehabilitation health facilities with the primary goal of giving drug dependents efficient, effective, highly accessible, and affordable drug abuse treatment and rehabilitation care and services.

The centers will provide medical diagnosis, treatment, and management for drug dependents; provide temporary shelter for patients in crisis for not more than 24 hours; provide consultation and counseling, and provide assistance to other rehabilitation services.

Under the proposed bill, two centers will be built in the region, one in Maguindanao and the other in Sulu. The Ministry of Health will examine and recommend the establishment of other centers in other areas.

The center in Maguindanao will primarily serve, but not be limited to, the patients from various parts of the mainland provinces and cities of BARMM, including the 63 barangays in North Cotabato, while the center in Sulu will serve patients from island provinces.

A total of P200-million will be appropriated to establish the two centers, including the construction, land development, procurement of equipment, pre-operating expenses, personnel services, and maintenance, and other operating expenses.

The authors of the bill are MPs Dr. Zul Qarneyn Abas and Atty. Maisara Latiph.  (Public Information, Publication, and Media Relations Division)