PDEA opens ‘Balay Silangan’ reform centers in Ilocos, La Union
THE Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency – Regional Office I inaugurated three “Balay Silangan” Reformation Centers in Ilocos Norte and La Union.
Two reformation centers were launched on February 2 and 3 in Badoc and Paoay, Ilocos Norte while another in Bangar, La Union on February 4.
The activities were attended by Director Jet Cariño, Assistant Regional Director and PDEA RO-I’s lead representative for Barangay Drug Clearing Program; the Balay Silangan Oversight Committee composed of the Department of the Interior and Local Government, local government officials, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Administration, Philippine National Police and other non-government organizations and stakeholders, whose task is to oversee the implementation of the “Balay Silangan” program in the LGU.
“Balay Silangan” Reformation Center is a community-based reformation program aimed to rehabilitate persons who use drugs (PWUDs).
The facility serves as temporary shelter provided by local government units, with the support of concerned government agencies, non-government organizations and other stakeholders.
PDEA RO-I Regional Director Ronald Allan DG Ricardo said persons who use drugs are provided in the reformation center with general interventions like continuing education and health awareness, and psychological/spiritual/physical activities such as counseling, moral recovery, values formation, personal and life skills.
Livelihood and skills training programs are also taught that aim to give employment opportunities to reformed drug users when they leave the center.
“The successive launching of the local reformation centers in the Ilocos region manifest the cooperation of the government agencies concerned, LGU officials, and stakeholders in providing refuge to the PWUDs’ lives by turning them into self-sufficient and responsible individuals,” Ricardo said.
