SAN SIMON -- More than two years after the campaign against illegal drugs was launched in 2016, the local government here seemed to have not wavered on its commitment in providing second chances to repenting drug users.
This as the local government, together with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Central Luzon, Philippine National Police (PNP), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Department of Health on Monday inaugurated the new rehabilitation center that will become the venue for rehabilitation of former illegal drug users.
According to Mayor Leonora Wong, the two-storey facility built at this town’s local government center will become the temporary shelter for individuals who have vowed to end their engagement in illegal drugs under PNP’s Oplan Tokhang.
She said that the construction of the building was funded through the Performance Challenge Fund amounting to P3-million awarded by the DILG after bagging the Seal of Good Local Governance award in 2016, and a P2-million counterpart from local funds.
“This structure is a product of good governance that was recognized by the DILG. It came from something good, and we wanted that goodness to ripple out by helping individuals bring out the goodness in themselves and that is the goal of Balay Silangan,” Wong said.
The Balay Silangan will also be simultaneous to the parish-based Bahay Pagbabago ni Apung Pilar reformation center whose common goal is to rehabilitate Simonians who were once lost in the life path and prepare them to become productive citizens of the community again, explained Wong.
“The inclusivity of our government does not exclude anybody, including our brothers who once chose to walk on the wrong path, but are now willing to be reformed. And with our goal to assist them in their journey of reintegrating themselves, we built this home for them,” she said.
Wong said that 20 Simonians identified by the local police will be the pioneer “residents” of the Bahay Silangan, and will stay there for at least a month while they undergo physical, mental and spiritual activities which are expected to help them in their reformation.
Meanwhile, the inauguration ceremony also coincided with the official turnover of the facility to PDEA-3 which will facilitate the reformation activities and monitor the progress of the surrenderees.
PDEA-Central Luzon Director Gil Pabilona, who personally accepted the administration of the center, lauded the local government of San Simon for their “unwavering commitment and always stepping up” in the campaign against illegal drugs.
Pabilona noted that the facility will become very significant and instrumental in the local government’s aim of making San Simon, with all its 14 barangays, a drug-cleared town.
“Aside from PDEA-3 (Central Luzon) and PNP’s efforts to stamp out illegal drug menace in the community through legitimate operations, one vital effort also needed is the rehabilitation of the drug surrenderers and we are grateful to the local government of San Simon for fulfilling that,” he said.