Bacolod unveils facility for drug reformists

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The 40th “Balay Silangan” facility for drug reformists in Western Visayas was inaugurated here last Wednesday.

Mayor Evelio Leonardia, along with Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-6 assistant regional director Donelyn Hermedez, PDEA-Negros Occidental Provincial Director Nicolas Gomez, and Atty. Mark Steven Mayo, who represented Bacolod Lone District Rep. Greg Gasataya, among others, led the inauguration and blessing of the Balay Silangan Reformation Facility, a drug reformation center that will be operated by the city government and the PDEA.

The two-storey facility is situated at the back of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) compound located along Lacson Extension in Barangay Singcang-Airport.

It has a project cost of P5 million taken from the fund of the City Mayor’s Office (CMO)- Other Structures 2018.

PDEA Negros Occidental head Nicolas Gomez said the PDEA initially planned in 2018 to have the pilot facility for the Visayas here.

Construction started in March 2019 but was only completed in March last year because of some delays amid the pandemic.

Gomez said the Bacolod facility is the third in Negros Occidental, after the towns of Pulupandan and Hinoba-an already unveiled their respective “Balay Silangan” facilities.

Balay Silangan is a community-based reformation program aimed at rehabilitating surrendered drug personalities across the country.

The program builds temporary shelters to drug offenders with the objective of reforming them into self-sufficient and law-abiding members of society.

Gomez said the facility can accommodate 30 people but can be adjusted to 15 or 20 subject to the health protocols amid the pandemic.

The facility staff will undergo orientation in the first week of August, so that the facility can start accommodating drug reformists by next month.

Gomez said that qualified clients are drug pushers who are drug surrenderers or those who availed the plea bargaining.

In a statement, Leonardia said that he is so glad that the city has this kind of facility because it is badly needed.

“This is all about reformation and giving second chances to drug offenders,” the mayor added.

Meanwhile, Leonardia said the city is currently constructing a P35-million Bacolod City Drug Rehabilitation Center in Barangay Alijis.

Of this amount, P15 million is from the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) while the P20 million is from the city government.

The rehabilitation center will cater to drug surrenderers with severe substance use disorder.

“Now our city has the facilities that can help our anti-illegal drugs program, and that we have a solid contribution to the program. We hope that our campaign will be successful,” Leonardia said.