The SangguniangPanlalawigan (SP) of Bohol on Tuesday passed on second reading an ordinance to convert the unused Bohol Youth Home in Cortes into a drug rehabilitation center.
The facility, originally designed for children in conflict with the law (CICL), has stood vacant since its completion years ago.
Board Member Tomas Abapo, the author of the measure, proposed the repurposing of the MalayoNorte, Cortes site to address drug rehabilitation needs in the province.
The ordinance grants the provincial government the authority to transform the youth home into a center for drug rehabilitation, responding to the facility’s lack of use since 2022.
However, the proposal has sparked some debate, with Board Member AldnerDamalerio abstaining from the vote, citing concerns over the future provisions for CICL if the site is repurposed.
The third and final reading of the ordinance is pending, where further details on the implications for CICL might be clarified.
The drug rehab center plan traces back to 2016 when Aumentado, then a Congressman, first proposed the idea amid a national push for rehabilitation over punishment in drug policy. The project gained momentum in April 2024 during a visit by Interior and Local Government Secretary BenhurAbalos Jr., who discussed the repurposing of the largely unused Bohol Youth Home in Cortes into a rehabilitation facility.
Funding for the center includes an unused allocation of P5 million pesos from the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), with the provincial government planning to supplement this for necessary renovations and staffing.
The Department of Health has pledged to provide medical supervision to ensure the center meets health standards.