“China offered to build the rehab. I think they have already started in Magsaysay. They are bringing the materials there already – only China ang magtulong sa atin,” President Rodrigo Duterte told the Filipino community in Indonesia today.
“I would like to thank China for being so generous to us,” he added.
Fort Magsaysay is the largest Military Reservation in the Philippines, with area of 35,000 hectares, and is one of the key training areas of the Philippine Army.
Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella revealed September 1 that China has started initial works on construction of a drug rehabilitation in Northern Luzon.
“That was mentioned by the President, right? It was mentioned. Actually, there is – the groundwork has begun. Groundwork, initial groundwork has begun,” the Presidential Spokesperson told the press last week. He added that “as far as I know, it’s in Northern Luzon.”
In August, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said that he has opened all military camps, especially the big ones, for the establishment of drug rehabilitation centers, as stated by the President in his first State-of-the-Nation Address (SONA).
Camps under this category are Fort Magsaysay in Palayan City, Nueva Ecja; Camp Macario Peralta in Jamindan, Capiz; Camp Kibaritan in Bukidnon; and Camp Tomas Capinpin in Tanay, Rizal.