Roxas City eyes Balay Silangan for drug reform

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz — The Roxas City government will build a Balay Silangan facility in Barangay San Jose to serve as a rehabilitation and reformation center for drug users and pushers.

City Councilor Fernando Luis Bordoy Viterbo said construction is expected to begin next week or early next month, once the allocated budget is approved and ready for implementation.

Viterbo said the facility can accommodate 40 individuals, with 20 slots for women and 20 slots for men.

He said the center will have a classroom, clinic, seminar area, livelihood program initiatives and other facilities designed to help drug dependents stay away from illegal drugs and rebuild their lives.

The city government is finalizing the design of the rehabilitation center.

Viterbo said Roxas City will focus more on combating the rising illegal drug problem, which he described as alarming.

He said the proliferation of illegal drugs is particularly concerning in hotspot areas of the city.

Viterbo said authorities should resolve the problem through a holistic approach that addresses the source of illegal drugs, the demand for them and the need for medical intervention.

Balay Silangan is a national drug reformation program that provides temporary refuge and interventions for drug offenders, with the goal of helping them become self-sufficient and law-abiding members of society. The Dangerous Drugs Board issued guidelines for the program in 2018.