By Glazyl Y. Masculino
BACOLOD City – Another facility for drug reformists in Negros Occidental was inaugurated in Hinoba-an town this week.
Mayor Ernesto Estrao, along with Donelyn Hemedez, assistant regional director of Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-6, led the launching and inauguration of Balay Silangan Reformation Facility at Barangay 2 last Wednesday.
It was the second Balay Silangan facility in the province as the first one was established in Pulupandan town last year.
According to Investigation Agent V Nicolas Gomez, head of PDEA-Negros Occidental, the center is intended for drug reformists who may need to undergo a one-month in-house rehabilitation.
The local government funded the construction of the facility which can be used by the reformists for free.
Gomez said the local government provides for the trainings and rehabilitation of the reformists, while the PDEA and other government agencies oversee the whole process of the development and help managed the reformists.
Once the reformists finish their rehabilitation, continuous monitoring will be conducted on them, he added.
Gomez said the facility has yet to officially operate because of the restrictions in mass gathering.
Meanwhile, Hemedez expressed her gratitude for the collective cooperation among Balay Silangan member agencies, municipal government, the Philippine National Police, different barangays, and other stakeholders for their full support on the anti-drug campaign of the government.
The establishment of the said reformation center will mark the beginning of a new life for the reformists.
As of this date, Western Visayas has established 39 Balay Silangan Reformation Centers.
On the other hand, Gomez said that local government units of E.B. Magalona, Moises Padilla, and Don Salvador Benedicto, and the cities of Silay, San Carlos, Sipalay, and Himamaylan which earlier committed to establish Balay Silangan centers in their respective areas by this year, got delays in the process of renovation of the existing buildings for the said purpose because of the pandemic.
