The first community-based reformation center in Central Visayas that aims to rehabilitate law offenders was launched on Thursday, September 27, in Danao City, Cebu.
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Central Visayas Acting Regional Director Wardley Getalla and Danao City Mayor Ramonito Durano III led the inauguration of the Balay Silangan Reformation Center, which is a temporary shelter intended to reform drug offenders who are non-drug users into self-sufficient and law-abiding members of society.
Other government officials also attended the opening of the reformation center at the Ramon Durano Sr. Foundation Home for the Aged.
They were Director Donelyn Hemedez of the Preventive Education and Community Involvement Service (PECIS) of PDEA, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG)-Central Visayas Director Leocadio T. Trovela, DILG-Central Visayas Assistant Regional Director Maria Luisella E. Lucino, Judge Jerry Dicdican and Judge Ma. Josefa Pinza- Ramos of Danao City Regionatl Trial Court.
Representatives from the Police Regional Office-Central Visayas, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, other local officials, and the Danao City drug reformists also attended the event.
Before the launching in Danao City, Director Hemedez had a lecture on the concepts of the Balay Silangan program at the DILG-Central Visayas office in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City.
Members of the Oversight Committee on the implementation of the program, together with Carmen Remedios Durano-Meca, the Cebu Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Office (CPADAO) chief.
The implementation of the Balay Silangan program is pursuant to Dangerous Drugs Board Regulation No. 2, Series of 2018, with the title “Balay Silangan – Guidelines for Community Involvement in Reforming Drug Offenders into Self-Sufficient and Law-Abiding Members of Society.”
The regulation aims to complement existing programs and interventions for drug personalities who voluntary surrendered.
The regulation mandates the coordination between local government units, the national government, and private stakeholders for the successful implementation of the program. A number of private companies in Danao City and neighboring municipalities have already pledged their support to the establishment of Balay Silangan Reformation Center.
The country’s first Balay Silangan Reformation Center was inaugurated in Malungon, Sarangani Province, on May 22, 2018.
PDEA is currently working closely with other local government units to adopt the reformation program and replicate it in their localities. (KAL/With PR)