SMC donates P1 B to government for drug rehab centers

MANILA, Philippines – The government is getting more funds for the construction of drug rehabilitation facilities as part of the effort to fight illegal drugs.

San Miguel Corp. (SMC) will hand over today a P1-billion donation to the government for the construction of additional drug rehabilitation facilities in the country.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Ismael Sueno thanked SMC vice-chairman, president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang and the entire SMC management for extending support to the government’s effort to rehabilitate drug users.

“We thank Mr. Ramon Ang for the P1-billion donation that he will hand over to us, which will go a long way for our fellowmen who can still be saved from drug dependence through rehabilitation,” Sueno said.

The ceremonial turnover of donation will be made through the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) as head of the inter-agency task force on the establishment and support of drug abuse treatment and rehabilitation centers nationwide.

Ang will be present at the ceremony to be held at 3 p.m. at the SMC Main Building, Ortigas Center, Pasig City along with Sueno, Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr., DILG Undersecretary for Operations John Castriciones, concurrent chairman of Task Force Agila, and representatives from the Department of Health.

In a previous statement, Ang said peace and order were essential to the country’s progress and development.

Ang likewise said that by supporting government in its campaign against illegal drugs as well as the rehabilitation of drug dependents, it would help create an “environment of participation and contribution” because it would encourage other sectors to do the same.

Sueno said the DILG, for its part, had been calling for accountability and transparency at the local government level, therefore guaranteeing openness in supervising the construction of mega-drug rehabilitation facilities in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

Last Nov. 29, the DILG led the launching of the first phase of the mega-drug rehabilitation in Fort Magsaysay, Laur, Nueva Ecija.

Sueno said the government would continue to receive donations and encourage corporations to exercise social responsibility and at the same time support government’s drive to eradicate illegal drug activities and reform drug users who could still be functional members of society.