LAMUT, Ifugao (PIA) --The  province of Ifugao  has now its own  reformation center  for drug surrenderers and pushers at the Tourism Village in  Mabatobato, this town.

Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)-Cordillera Regional Director Julius Paderes and Lamut Mayor Victomar Bunnol led the inauguration  of the  facility called “Balay Silangan”  on  September 12, 2023.

This center located at the basement of Balay ni Ambot is the first for the province of Ifugao. It was  initiated by the local government unit of Lamut and the PDEA  and supported by  government agencies and civil society organizations.

Marjoly Tucpi of the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office- Lamut explained that this Balay Silangan Reformation Center is a critical step for Ifugao in providing temporary shelter for drug offenders with the aim of reforming them into self-sufficient and law-abiding members of society.

Said center will offer comprehensive array of interventions, including continuing education, health awareness initiatives, psychological and spiritual activities, physical fitness programs, counseling services, moral recovery support, values formation, personal and life skills development, as well as livelihood and skills training.

Paderes  said the facility  will bridge the gap and supplement  “Oplan Sagip”  under Dangerous Drug Board Regulation No. 4 series of 2016 which provides   for “guidelines on handling drug users and drug dependents which include interventions, trainings, livelihood and monitoring mechanism”.  

Governor Jerry Dalipog delivered his message of support and lauded the municipality of Lamut and the PDEA for spearheading the program.

Partner agencies  signed a  memorandum of understanding demonstrating their unified support in the implementation of the reformation program.  The signatories include the Department of the Interior and Local Government,  Technical Education and Skills Development Authority,  Department of Education, Ifugao State University,  Provincial Department of Health Office,  Dept. of Labor and Employment,  Dept. of Trade and Industry, Dept. of Social Welfare and Development, Ifugao Police Provincial Office, 14 Special Action Battalion, Regional Mobile Force Battalion 1501st Mobile Company, and the civil society organization representatives. 

Bunnol also expressed his heartfelt appreciation to the partner agencies for their unwavering support of the reformation program designed to benefit drug surrenderers.

“Napagandang isipin na pagdating sa ganitong okasyon, nagtipon-tipon tayong lahat para sa tuloy-tuloy na pagbangon ng mga kapatid natin na nalulong o nalihis ng landas dahil sa kalaban ng ating society na illegal drugs,” the Mayor said.

He also hopes no one will need to undergo rehabilitation in the municipality and in the province because of drugs that in the next few years. (JDP/FBR-PIA CAR, Ifugao)