DINALUPIHAN, Bataan -- Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo lauded on Thursday, November 21, the Bahay Pagbabago Community-based Reformation Center in Dinalupihan as it marked its third anniversary.

Robredo, who co-chairs the Inter-Agency Committee on Anti-Illegal Drugs (Icad), referred to illegal drugs as an illness of society that needs to be addressed by the community.

“Ang pinag-uukulan natin ng panahon ngayon ay iparamdam sa bawat Pilipino na problema nating lahat ito para tulong-tulong tayo sa paghanap ng solusyon,” Robredo said during the Bahay Pagbabago third anniversary celebration held at Bulwagan ng Bayan.

(What we are trying to do today is make every Filipino feel that this is a problem to all of us so we could all unite to find a solution)

She also praised the municipal government of Dinalupihan, national government agencies, civil society organizations, and faith-based and volunteer groups for uniting to combat illegal drugs in the province.

“Hindi ito problema lamang ng pulis, hindi problema lamang ng local government unit, hindi ito problema lamang ng barangay. Pinakita niyo po dito sa Dinalupihan na ang impossible ay maaring maging possible pag tayo nagtulong tulong,” Robredo added.

(This is not just a problem of the police, the local government unit, or the barangay. You showed here in Dinalupihan that the impossible can be possible if we all help each other.)

Dinalupihan Mayor Maria Angela “Gila” Garcia said the facility has already produced 957 graduates of drug dependents from the 23 batches in its 30-day comprehensive family and values-oriented program.

“Bahay Pagbabago has taught reformists to know themselves better, to make them closer to God and to make them realize the importance of their family because we believe that illegal drugs will destroy our children and the next generation,” Garcia stressed.

Bahay Pagbabago is a community-based rehabilitation facility conceptualized by erstwhile Bataan Police Provincial Director and current Acting Police Regional Director Police Brigadier General Rhodel Sermonia in response to the challenges of reducing, reforming and reintegrating illegal drugs personalities. (PIA-Central Luzon)