MAKATI DRUG DEPENDENTS GET GOV'T ALLOWANCE

Believe it or not, but in Makati City, even drug dependents who are
willing to be rehabilitated receive certain forms of assistance from
the city government.

One of such assistance is the subsistence allowance for drug
dependents committed for rehabilitation at the Bicutan Drug
Rehabilitation Center in Taguig.

Already, the City Council approved recently an ordinance appropriating
R1.5 million for the purpose. The amount covers the cost of food and
medicine for 100 male and 20 female patients at the BDRC for one year.

Authorities said the fund will come from the Special Activities Fund
(SAF) under the office of Mayor Jejomar C. Binay.

The assistance is extended by the city government through the Makati
Anti-Drug and Substance Abuse Council (Madsac) to willing drug
dependents under rehabilitation to allow them to once again become
productive members of society.

Through the initiative of Vice Mayor Ernesto Mercado, who is also
chairman of the Makati Anti-Drug Abuse Council (Madac), the city
government provides direct assistance to the city's marginal or poor
drug users and dependents in the rehabilitation center.

Madsac records show that from 2000, it has referred a total of 154
drug dependents at the Taguig rehabilitaiton center. It has also been
coordinating with city-based technical schools to accommodate drug
probationers.