By Benjamin Cuaresma
MANILA — The Department of Health (DOH)-Ilocos Region has hailed the Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Center (DTRC) Dagupan for making history as the first government treatment and rehabilitation center in the country to receive national recognition from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) for its outstanding support in implementing the Enhanced Philippine Anti-Illegal Drug Strategy (EPADS).
The distinction was presented during PDEA’s 24th founding anniversary celebration on July 2 at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, where DTRC Dagupan Medical Center Chief II Dr. Rosalina N. Caoile and Chief Administrative Officer Raymund T. Basbas accepted the award on behalf of the institution.
DOH officials described the recognition as a milestone that highlights the growing importance of treatment and rehabilitation in the country’s campaign against illegal drugs, stressing that recovery and reintegration are equally vital pillars of the national anti-drug strategy.
Accepting the award, Caoile credited the achievement to the collective efforts of DTRC Dagupan’s healthcare professionals, employees, and partner agencies that have continuously worked to provide compassionate, evidence-driven care to persons recovering from substance use disorders.
She said the recognition serves as both an affirmation of the center’s mission and a motivation to further strengthen collaboration with PDEA, local government units, and other stakeholders in delivering quality rehabilitation services.
According to Caoile, every individual battling substance dependency deserves an opportunity to recover with dignity, hope, and professional support.
Over the past year, DTRC Dagupan has intensified its partnership with PDEA by participating in community-based drug prevention campaigns, assisting barangay drug-clearing initiatives, promoting rehabilitation awareness, improving inter-agency coordination, and delivering comprehensive treatment and recovery programs.
The DOH said these initiatives have helped reinforce preventive measures, improve recovery outcomes, and contribute to safer and healthier communities across the region.
DOH Ilocos Regional Director Helen D. Tobias commended the entire DTRC Dagupan workforce, saying the national recognition reflects the center’s unwavering commitment to professionalism, excellence, and patient-centered healthcare.
She emphasized that science-based rehabilitation continues to prove effective in restoring lives, rebuilding families, and empowering individuals to become productive members of society.
Tobias also reaffirmed the health department’s commitment to expanding access to quality rehabilitation services, strengthening community-based recovery programs, combating stigma surrounding substance use disorders, and ensuring that every Filipino seeking treatment receives compassionate and respectful care.
The DOH-Ilocos Region likewise underscored the value of sustained collaboration among government agencies, local governments, healthcare providers, and communities, saying that a unified national effort remains essential in preventing substance abuse, supporting long-term recovery, and creating safer communities for future generations.
ia/xf
