THE City Government of Bacolod is now ready to operate the Balay Silangan, the national drug reformation program, in Barangay Singcang-Airport.

Executive assistant Samuel Montoyo, point person of the City’s anti-drug abuse campaign, said Monday, January 27, that the construction of Balay Silangan is almost 90 percent completed and it will be opened next month.

He said on February 10, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Western Visayas will conduct an orientation for the operation of the Balay Silangan.

He added the Balay Silangan, located near the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), will reform the drug pushers here.

The orientation will also be attended by representatives from the Department of Health (DOH)-Western Visayas and the city government.

The Balay Silangan offers temporary refuge with the objection of reforming drug offenders into self-sufficient and law-abiding members of society.

The Balay Silangan has a total budget of P5 million.

Montoyo said the Balay Silangan will be operated by the City Government.

“The Balay Silangan is intended for the drug pushers who will undergo evaluation with the PDEA, City Health Office, and BCPO,” he said.

In 2018, PDEA chose Bacolod City as one of the pilot sites of the Balay Silangan Reformation Program in the country.

Other Balay Silangan pilot areas are Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija for Luzon; Caloocan City for the National Capital Region; and Malungon, Sarangani for Mindanao. (MAP)