GENERAL SANTOS CITY–The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) formally unveiled on Tuesday Mindanao’s first community-based reformation center for drug law offenders in Malungon town, Sarangani Province.
PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino said the newly-opened reformatory center will serve as a model for the implementation of the Balay Silangan program in Mindanao.
Aquino said the facility is a product of the multi-agency-backed Balay Silangan, a flagship drug reformation program that focuses on the rehabilitation of drug surrenderers through a “home-centered” approach.
He said Malungon town was chosen as pilot site being the “most ready” among LGUs for the rollout of the program.
Located at Villareal Resort in Barangay Nagpan, it previously hosted the local government’s Outpatient Reformatory and Treatment Center for Drug Dependents, which opened in November 2016.
The municipal government forged a memorandum of agreement last month with the program’s national oversight committee led by the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) and PDEA to become among its pilot sites in the country.
The other pilot areas are the province of Capiz for Visayas, Caloocan City in the National Capital Region and Cabanatuan City in Luzon.
Under the program, which was officially launched in Manila last April 25, Aquino said drug offenders in the area will undergo community-based reformation at the Balay Silangan for three to four months.
He said it will cater to drug surrenderers, offenders who availed of plea bargaining offers, and drug pushers who want to be reformed but have not been identified or arrested by law enforcement agencies.
Aquino said they will offer counseling, moral recovery sessions, as well as provide livelihood training and necessary assistance to drug offenders.
“This is a holistic approach. Balay Silangan means a home or house of hope, so once the surrederers come out of the facility, they should be ripe enough and ready to integrate into our communities as law-abiding and productive citizens,” he said.
Malungon Mayor Maria Theresa Constantino said the local government will be assisted by the PDEA and other government agencies in managing the operations of Balay Silangan.
“It will be a co-sharing arrangement. We will mainly fund its operations but will be augmented by PDEA and other partners,” she said.
Based on DDB Resolution No. 2, series of 2018, the program will be implemented in coordination with the DDB, PDEA, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of the Interior and Local Government, Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police.
A regional oversight committee will regularly monitor its operations and the support from involved agencies. (PNA)
