BACOLOD CITY (PIA) – A first in the Visayas and second in the whole country, the P5 million two-storey Balay Silangan facility in the city is finally up at Lacson Extension in Barangay Singcang-Airport here.

Balay Silangan Reformation Facility, a community-based drug reformation center that will be operated by the city government and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), seeks to rehabilitate surrendered drug personalities.

Bacolod City mayor Evelio Leonardia is elated with the facility as it is needed in giving second chances to drug offenders.

“It is a great thing that it happened here in Bacolod—being a pilot city again. There are only four pilot areas for this project: Nueva Ecija for Luzon, Caloocan City for National Capital Region (NCR), Malungon in Sarangani Province for Mindanao, and Bacolod City for the Visayas,” Leonardia said.

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 added. (LTP/EAD-PIA6 Negros Occidental)