NUEVA ECIJA -- The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) led by Director General Aaron Aquino inaugurated on May 24 the Balay Silangan Reformatory Center in Cabanatuan City, this province.
Balay Silangan is a 100-bed capacity reformatory center launched by PDEA to rehabilitate illegal drug users and dependants as part of the agency's continuous program to stamp out the proliferation of illegal drugs.
It was created by virtue of Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) Regulation 2 series of 2018 and is considered the pilot project of PDEA in Luzon funded by the City Government of Cabanatuan City.
The City Government, through the initiative of Mayor Julius Cesar Vergara, allocated P1.2 million for the construction and purchase of fixtures needed for the operation of the center.
According to Aquino, the Balay Silangan is a holistic and compassionate approach of helping drug offenders to integrate in the society, thereby making them more productive and acceptable in the society..
"We also intend to put up Balay Silangan in Bureau of Jail Management Penology facilities to help drug offenders and we are on the process of entering a memorandum of understanding to BJMP for the implementation of this program," Aquino said.
During his speech, Aquino also expressed his gratitude to the City Government of Cabanatuan for its support and the allocation of funds for the construction of the reformatory center.
He also urged all the stakeholders to support the government's campaign against illegal drugs toward a drug-free country by participating in the anti-illegal drug programs.
