Department of Health - Treatment and Rehabilitation Center (Bicutan)

DOH TRC - BICUTAN was hailed as the biggest rehabilitation center in the Philippines as far as client population is concerned, which at a time, catered to almost 3,000 drug dependents at one time. AS SUCH, TREATMENT IS NOT FOCUSED ON ONE TARGET ALONE BUT IS REFINED TO THE INDIVIDUAL NEEDS OF THE PATIENTS WE SERVE,
ALL UNDER THE TREATMENT MODALITY OUR CENTER FOLLOWS. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Novemb

er 09, 1972 – Then Col. Felix PC, Commanding Officer of the “Constabulary Anti – Narcotics Unit (CANU)” founded the “Drug Abuse Rehabilitation Network Inc. (DARN)”, a private non – stock non – profit residential center for drug dependents. DARN Center started and occupied only three (3) buildings loaned from the Veterans Federation of the Philippines at Veterans Compound in Taguig City, Metro Manila, for the dormitories of the drug dependents with a maximum 90 – 100 male and female population. CANU – DARN Rehabilitation Center’s Chief then was Colonel Artemio Agustin, MC (PC). The drug treatment and rehabilitation center was created to implement the programs of the government pursuant to Section 30, 31 and 32, Article VI of RA 6425, otherwise known as the Dangerous Drugs Law of 1972 as amended. March 01, 1975 – CANU – DARN transferred from the Veteran’s Compound in Taguig, Metro Manila to its present location at Camp Bagong Diwa, Bicutan Taguig. CANU – Drug Abuse Rehabilitation Network (CANU – DARN) was renamed CANU – Treatment and Rehabilitation Center (CANU – TRC). February 01, 1983 - CANU – DARN was place under the operational supervision of the GHQ, AFP and renamed AFP – Narcotics Command. With the birth of Narcotics Command under GHQ – AFP, CANU – TRC was renamed NARCOM Drug Rehabilitation Center or AFP NARCOM – DRC under Brigadier General Ramon E. Colonel Plaridel F. Vidal, MC (PC) was then chief, Drug Rehabilitation Center. April 16, 1988 - AFP NARCOM – DRC was transferred from the AFP to the PC/INP control and operational management and was simply called NARCOTICS GROUP – DRC. January 01 1991 - pursuant to RA 6975 or the PNP Law, the PC/INP was abolished to give way for the enforcement of the “Philippine National Police (PNP)” under Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) National Police Commission thus the NARCOM – DRC transferred from PC/INP to the Philippine National Police and still called AFP NARCGROUP – DRC. October 01, 1996 - the AFPNARCOM – DRC was renamed to PNP, Narcotics Group – Drug Rehabilitation Center (PNP NARGRP – DRC) pursuant to GO No. 118 dated 01 October 1996 with Police Superintendent Baltazar S. Balangauan, M.D. as the Chief of the center. A welcome feature of the center is the establishment of Bahay Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center (BBBRC) in the late 1998, the treatment facility which is exclusively for Children on Substance Abuse. Another welcome development is the construction of seventeen (17) dormitories sponsored by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) with a total bed capacity of two thousand five hundred (2,500), which was opened in early part of 2000 with Police Superintendent Bonaparte Francisco as the Chief of the center. In October 20, 2002 with RA 9165 as reference as Letter of Instruction LOI 38/02 sets forth the creation and operation of the “Centers for the Ultimate Rehabilitation of Drug Dependents (CURRED)” under the Office of the Deputy Chief, PNP Police Deputy Director General Edgardo Aglipay for operation elaborates on its function and operation thrust. The PNP, through CUREDD, continued to undertake rehabilitation and therapy to drug dependents which includes medical and physical rehabilitation, mental rehabilitation, personality development providing skills training opportunities spiritual enhancement5 and family therapy during the transition period stipulated in RA 9165 and such time that the “Department of Health (DOH) is ready to take over. With the Department Personnel Order (DPO) No. 2008 – 0869 dated March 24, 2008, by then undersecretary for special concerns Jade F. Del Mundo, by the authority of the Secretary of Health and in the interest of service, Dr. Carmelita B. Belgica was designated as temporary Chief of DOH TRC – Bicutan effective April 01, 2008. April 01, 2008 - in pursuant to RA 9165 and DOH – DPO NO. 2008 – 0868 CURRED shall be renamed as Department of Health, Treatment and Rehabilitation Center Bicutan or “DOH TRC – Bicutan”. May 22, 2009 – with the Department Personnel Order (DPO) 2009-1820, issued by Assistant Secretary Elmer G. Punzalan, Cluster Head of the Office for Special Concerns, Dr. Marvin V. Diokno, Director II is designated as the new Center Director of DOH-TRC Bicutan.