The provincial government of Sarangani has acquired a three-hectare property in Alabel town for the site of the P350-million regional drug treatment and rehabilitation center that will be built through a grant from the Chinese government.
Sarangani Governor Steve Chiongbian Solon said they finalized earlier this week the purchase of the lot worth P3.6 million located in Purok 4, Barangay Kawas in Alabel, following negotiations with the landowners.
The governor personally received the property’s certificate of title after releasing the payment to landowners led by Charita Mamporte in a turnover ceremony held on Thursday at the provincial capitol.
The provincial government pushed for the acquisition of the property after signing a memorandum of understanding last March with the Department of Health (DOH) and the Chinese Embassy in Manila for the implementation of the project.
Solon said they had committed to provide the site as counterpart to the project, which will be implemented under the “Grant-Aid Dangerous Drug Abuse Treatment Rehabilitation Centers Project.”
The government had chosen Sarangani and Agusan del Sur as recipients of the project, which was cited as one of the outcomes of President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s state visit to China last year.
Dr. Arvin Alejandro, Sarangani provincial health officer, earlier said they expect the project’s preparatory works to start following the acquisition of the site.
He said Chinese engineers from Tonji University already visited the area in early March for an ocular inspection.
A project briefer said the planned regional drug treatment and rehabilitation center will have a capacity of 150 beds and will operate a recovery clinic.
The facility will be operated and managed by the DOH and will mainly cater to drug dependents from Region 12.
Also known as Soccksaren, the region covers the provinces of South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat, Sarangani and North Cotabato, and the cities of General Santos, Koronadal, Tacurong, Kidapawan and Cotabato.
The development of the center is expected to provide employment opportunities to qualified residents as well as livelihood for community stakeholders at the site. (PNA)
photo credit: One Father’s Love
