14 Capiz towns declared drug-cleared

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz – Fourteen of the 16 municipalities in Capiz have been declared drug-cleared, while the remaining towns, including Roxas City, continue to intensify their campaigns against illegal drugs.

Police Captain Rile Villariez Jr., spokesperson for the Capiz Police Provincial Office (CPPO), stated that one requirement for a municipality to be declared drug-cleared is the construction of a ‘Balay Silangan’ facility.

The four towns yet to be declared drug-cleared are Pilar, Dumalag, and Roxas City.

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) officially launched the ‘Balay Silangan’ program on April 25, 2018.

This community-based reformation program aims to rehabilitate surrendered drug personalities across the country by providing temporary shelters and helping them become self-sufficient, law-abiding citizens.

“The program is reformatory in nature. It is an alternative intervention for drug personalities who are not users and are not eligible to undergo medical treatment and rehabilitation in facilities supervised by the Department of Health (DOH),” said Villariez.