LARENA, Siquijor (PIA) — The Balay Silangan facility in Larena town is now open to cater to surrendered drug personalities in the municipality.
Balay Silangan is a community-based reformation program of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) that provides temporary shelter for drug offenders to reform them into becoming self-sufficient and law-abiding members of society.
Half of the space inside the Larena Evacuation Center has been temporarily converted to serve as the Balay Silangan to house the town’s drug surrenderees who are undergoing reformation from the PDEA.
The facility currently accommodates six reformees.
All six local government units in Siquijor province now have a Balay Silangan facility.
“Nagpasalamat ko nga naay Balay Silangan Rehabilitation Program para namo aron ma-erase og ma-clear na gyud among ngalan. Dili na gyud pug ko mousob,” said Anna (not her real name), a 43-year-old reformee.
(I am thankful for the Balay Silangan Rehabilitation Program so we can clear our names. I have no intention of going back to my drug habits.)
Anna recalled how she became a drug pusher to augment her meager income. She eventually stopped her illegal trade after receiving warnings from the police and seeing the negative impact on her child.
“Nakabantay ko sauna sa akong gibuhat, akong anak nagdaot. Mao ng bahalag walay kwarta, bahalag makautang ug daghan , mabayran ra man ng utanga na, dili na gyud ko mousab,” she said.
(I have noticed before that because of my illegal trade, my son fell sick. That’s why even if I don’t have money and have lots of debt, I will never go back to that business again. I know I will eventually be able to pay off all my debts.)
Anna remains hopeful that the program will give her a chance to reform for a brighter future.
During the recent opening ceremony for the reformation facility, Larena Chief of Police Eddie Ric A. Yarag lauded the Larena municipal government for making their evacuation center available for the Balay Silangan program.
Yarag said the center stands as a symbol of the community’s unwavering commitment to the reforming drug offenders.
He underscored the active involvement of the Philippine National Police in collaborating closely with PDEA to ensure the success of the rehabilitation center.
“Our goal is to rehabilitate individuals struggling with drug dependence,” said Yarag.
He urged the reformees to commit to avoid falling back into their harmful habits upon their return to the community. (CAG/PIA7 Siquijor)
