HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

The Malinao Treatment & Rehabilitation Center (MTRC) is an institution that caters to individuals suffering from substance abuse (Figure 15, 16, 17). It is located in Barangay Comun, Malinao Albay which is about eight (8) kilometers from Tabaco City. In 1999, Honorable Edcel Lagman of the 1^st District of Albay spearheaded the establishment of the first drug treatment and rehabilitation center in Bicol. It was established in response to the increasing number of drug dependents in the Bicol Region.

The Malinao Regional Drug Rehabilitation Center (MRDRC), now currently known as Malinao Treatment & Rehabilitation Center (MTRC) was made operational through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between three (3) parties: the National Drug Enforcement and Prevention Coordinating Center (DEP Center), identified as the first party; the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), as the second party; and the Missionary of the Poor Sisters as the third party, in coordination with the 1^st District Representative of Albay, Honorable Krisel Lagman-Luistro and the Philippine National Police (PNP) Regional Office 5.

On February 2000, a team of seven (7) personnel from the Narcotics Group – Bicutan Drug Rehabilitation Center was sent to compose the core staff to assist and train locally- hired personnel. The team was headed by Police Senior Inspector Eutiquio Vibal MD. The Center was inaugurated on March 23, 2000. This was attended by the different local officials of the region. The Center was under PNP management and supervision from February 2000 to the first quarter of 2006. The following served as the Officers-in Charge of the Center under PNP management: Police Senior Inspector Eutiquio Vibal MD (2000-November 2001); Police Chief Inspector Pablo Rustico M. Apolonio MD ( November to “August 2003); Mr. Arturo Munsayac (August 2003 to Nov 2003) and Police Senior Inspector Richard M. Aquitania (November 2003-2006).

During the second semester of 2005, Department Order was issued placing the Center under the administrative supervision and management of Bicol Regional Training & Teaching Hospital (BRTTH), a DOH-Retained hospital in Legazpi City.

On the second semester of 2005, a Department Order was issued placing the Center under the administrative supervision and management of Bicol Regional Training & Teaching Hospital (BRTTH), a DOH-Retained hospital in Legazpi City. The Center was under BRTTH management from 2005-2007. The following served as the Officers in-Charge of the Center under BRTTH management, to wit: Ms. Mary Natalie Montes; Ms. Franceis Molato and Mr. Troy Joseph Dy.

Eventually, the management and administrative supervision of the Center was transferred from BRTTH to CHD-Bicol by virtue of Department Personnel Order No. 2007- 3373 dated November 5, 2007.

All the staff and employees of the Center are on a Job Order basis from the time it operated under PNP management up to the present. The proposed plantilla positions have been submitted to the Department of Budget and Management for approval.

All TRCs are now classified as “Special Hospitals” through Resolution No. 126-255-A issued by the Executive Committee on June 2, 2008.