BUTUAN CITY – A P35 million Drug Rehabilitation and Treatment Center will soon finally rise in the Caraga Region, it was learned Wednesday.

The groundbreaking of the said project last Monday was attended by top regional and provincial officials of the local government unit and Department of Health (DoH) led by Surigao City Mayor Alfonso Casurra and Health Assistant Secretary Dr. Elmer Punzalan.

The site of the P35 million Drug Rehabilitation and Treatment Center is located in Barangay Anomar, Surigao City.

The lot where the rehabilitation center will be built was donated by the city government of Surigao.

Establishing a drug rehabilitation center in this region has long been projected by the local officials and was only finally realized after the city government of Surigao donated a lot for the said project.

It was gathered that the construction of the facility is being bankrolled under the Office of Special Concerns of the DoH.

The construction of the rehabilitation facility is expected to be completed by next year.

“We hope to complete the Phase 1 by 2010,” said Casurra.

The construction of the rehab center is very vital for it will cater not only to patients in the Caraga Region but also to neighboring provinces, he said.