DAGUPAN CITY (PIA) – The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), in partnership with the local government unit of Asingan, is set to open a Balay Silangan Reformation Center in the municipality on August 15, 2022, the fifth in the entire province.
 
Balay Silangan, the national drug reformation program, offers temporary refuge with an objective of reforming drug offenders into self-sufficient and law-abiding members of society.
 
PDEA-Pangasinan director Rechie Camacho said, “Maraming gagawin dito sa Balay Silangan, magka-conduct tayo ng information drive kung saan pumupunta ang iba’t ibang ahensya ng gobyerno at nagkakaroon ng lecture tungkol sa epekto ng illegal drugs.”
 
“There are three phases to the community-based rehabilitation at the center. The first phase is the mandatory in-house rehabilitation wherein clients will learn about the ill effects of illegal drugs and the related laws. In phase two, the clients will be outpatients wherein they will undergo counseling and consultation by the Department of Social Welfare and Development and moral recovery programs by religious sectors,” he said during the Pantongtongan Tayo radio program of PIA-Pangasinan on Tuesday.
 
He added that the third phase is the livelihood program with assistance from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Trade and Industry, and in some instances by private companies.
 
PDEA already inspected the facility which is now almost finished.
 
Asingan local government, under Mayor Carlos Lopez Jr., provided the funds for the construction of the center.
 
The Asingan public information office said the P1-million drug reformation center can accommodate 12 drug surrenderers.
 
Camacho said the establishment of the Balay Silangan is required of every local government unit (LGU) in the entire country to attain the drug-cleared status.
 
He  appealed to local LGUs to prioritize the establishment of their respective Balay Silangan so they can focus on helping their constituents affected by illegal drugs.
 
He said the other Balay Silangan centers in the province are in the towns of Sison, Basista and Balungao, and in San Carlos City.
 
Meanwhile, out of 1,364 total barangays in Pangasinan, 1,272 were affected and 1,077 were already cleared leaving 195 drug-affected barangays remaining.
 
Camacho called on residents to immediately report to the police if there is any illegal drug dealing activities in their respective areas. (JCR/AMB/PIA Pangasinan)