BACOLOD CITY — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) is eyeing to assist an initial 30 clients for its proposed Balay Silangan reformation center in Bacolod, which will serve as the pilot site in the Visayas.
PDEA Director II Donelyn Hemedez presented the details of the program during the consultation-dialogue with the City Anti-Drug Abuse Council presided by Mayor Evelio Leonardia held at Bacolod City Government Center Wednesday afternoon.
Hemedez asked the city government to provide a facility to accommodate surrendered drug personalities selected for a three-month in-house reformation program, which will have three phases.
Phase 1 covers education, particularly on Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002; Phase 2, provides self-help and life support skills; and Phase 3, focuses on provision of livelihood assistance.
Leonardia expressed the city government’s interest in hosting the Balay Silangan pilot site in the Visayas although he raised concerns on the funding sources.
“The desire is there, the spirit is there, the pocket is weak,” he said.
The mayor, however, noted the possibility of tapping private sector groups such as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to lend a facility for the Balay Silangan.
Bacolod is also planning to build its own drug rehabilitation center at the city-owned owned lot in Barangay Alijis.
The proposed site development for the 50-bed facility worth PHP32.3 million was also presented by the City Engineer’s Office during the consultation-dialogue.
PDEA said the Balay Silangan is a national drug reformation program that offers temporary refuge with the objective of reforming drug offenders into self-sufficient and law-abiding members of society.
“Bacolod City is being considered for the program’s pilot implementation in the Visayas since the city actively supports the government’s anti-drug campaign,” PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino said in a letter to the mayor.
Other Balay Silangan pilot sites are located in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija for Luzon; Caloocan City for the National Capital Region; and Malungon, Sarangani Province for Mindanao.
A National Oversight Committee chaired by PDEA will be formed to oversee the implementation of Balay Silangan whose members include the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Technical Education and Skills Development Administration, Parole and Probation Administration, Bureau of Corrections, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of National Defense, the Philippine National Police, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. (Nanette Guadalquiver/PNA)
