A team from the office of special assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go arrived in Bohol yesterday to inspect two possible sites for the proposed multi-million drug rehabilitation center in the province.

Assistant Sec. Aurora Ignacio of the Office of the Special Assistant to the President led the group in checking the possible location of the facility near a military camp in Carmen on Tuesday morning, said Governor Edgar Chatto.

The inspecting committee will then motor to Ubay today to also conduct an assessment at the second proposed area in Ubay, added Chatto who also had a dialogue with Ignacio regarding the proposed 500-hectare facility.

According to Ignacio, the Office of the President assured her that quality materials will be used in building the rehabilitation center.

These will be more durable than the prefabricated items used in the construction of a similar but larger facility in Nueva Ecija, she added.

For its part, the provincial government led by Chatto had previously expressed its preference for Carmen as the facility’s location citing better security due to its nearness to a military camp.

In January, Chinese businessmen pledged to provide funds for the construction of a “mega” drug rehabilitation center in Carmen as support to the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.

According to Cabinet Sec. Leoncio Evasco, the funds from the Chinese entrepreneurs who have been doing business in the Philippines will be coursed through the Kausaban Foundation, a non-profit organization supporting the government’s anti-drug campaign.

The cabinet secretary attributed the choosing of Bohol as the facility’s site to the efforts of Boholano Fernando “Ding” Borja, Pres. Rodrigo Duterte’s special envoy to China.

“I think we really have to extend our deep appreciation and gratitude to Mr. Borja who really facilitated the support of the Chinese businessmen”, Evasco said. “They were the ones who said that the first project of the foundation will be in Bohol.” (Rey Tutas)