ABOUT 30 individuals housed at the Balay Silangan Reformation Center in Angeles City, Pampanga have been vaccinated at the City College of Angeles.
According to IC Calaguas, Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin Jr.’s chief adviser, all 30 drug offenders were escorted on-site by the staff of Angeles City Anti-Drug Abuse Council led by Richard Alan Saul.
“Nasa pangangalaga po sila ng siyudad, kaya bilang parte po ng ating pagtulong sa kanila sa panibagong buhay at pagkakataon, nais din po ni Mayor Lazatin na bakunado at protektado sila,” Calaguas said.
“Importante pong ayos ang kalusugan nila, lalo na’t kinikilala rin po natin silang bahagi ng lipunan na nais magbagong buhay,” Calaguas added.
To date, 38.95 percent or 180,323 have received their first dose of vaccines while 34.40 percent or 159,273 are already fully vaccinated.
Balay Silangan, a project initiated by Former Director General Aaron Aquino of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), is a reformation Center for illegal drugs surrenderers so they can be more productive members of society.
The program aims to give a second chance to drug surrenderees with job opportunities, reintegrating them with their families and communities.
Located in Barangay Pulung Maragul, this is the first Balay Silangan Reformation Program Center in Pampanga.
It was inaugurated on October 22, 2020, since part of the six-point Agenda of Mayor Lazatin is to ensure a drug-free city.
As of July 2021, 140 drug offenders have already graduated from the Balay Silangan.