CHERYL G. CRUZ
The first Balay Silangan reformation center in Negros Occidental was inaugurated yesterday in Sitio Pukatod, Brgy. Pag-ayon, Pulupandan town, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Region 6 said.
It is the first reformation facility in Negros Occidental and the 24th in Western Visayas, the PDEA added.
PDEA-6, led by regional director Edgar Apalla and director Donelyn Hemedez, with the Balay Silangan and Barangay Drug Clearing teams, PDEA-NOCPO, Municipal Administrator Federico Infante Jr., Dr. Joshua Vargas – officer-in-charge of the Pulupandan Rural Health Unit; Marlon Galleto of Pulupandan MLGOO, P/Major Renante Jomocan, and P/Captain Rey Tolosa, were present at the ribbon-cutting and unveiling of the Balay Silangan Marker.
Barangay officials, its Anti-Drug Abuse Council, Liga ng mga Barangay, town police, and other members of the Pulupandan local government unit also took part in the signing of the Manifesto of Commitment.
Balay Silangan is the national drug reformation program that offers temporary refuge with the objective of reforming drug offenders into self-sufficient and law-abiding members of society.
It was established by virtue of Dangerous Drugs Board Regulation No. 2, Series of 2018. – CGC
