Manila: A total of 79 Balay Silangan Reformation Centers have been established across Western Visayas, with 362 individuals already completing the program and interventions ongoing for 106 more, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Region VI reported on Thursday. 'Balay Silangan is a reformation program, which is different from rehabilitation. The focus of the program is to modify the negative attitudes and behavior of a person to become productive and acceptable in society,' Graciella Tanaleon, information officer for PDEA in Western Visayas, said.
According to Philippines News Agency, the program targets small-time drug offenders, particularly those on watchlists who have voluntarily surrendered or entered plea bargaining agreements under the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. These individuals are not qualified for treatment in Department of Health-run rehabilitation centers or community-based programs.
Tanaleon said the center has a three-month reformation program composed of one-month mandatory in-house for education, health, and psychosocial physical activities, and two months for livelihood and employment education. Livelihood and other programs are determined by the local government unit (LGU) for practicability. Programs include training in gardening, massage, reflex, carpentry, and soap-making, among others.
In cases of relapse, individuals must re-enter the LGU's community-based rehabilitation program. 'Hopefully, there will be relapsed programs for individuals because there are several times they go back to zero after testing positive. We believe there is a different approach for relapsed cases,' Tanaleon added.
The establishment of a Balay Silangan Reformation Center is part of the sustainability phase of the barangay drug-clearing program or drug-cleared status. 'As part of our self-policing capacity as LGUs or community in case of instances or reports of activities. If there are small-time pushers who voluntarily surrender, there is a facility ready to cater for the reformation program,' she said.
The latest facility was established in Barangay Sta. Fe in Pilar, Capiz on Jan. 23, 2025. It is the 14th center of the province and the 79th in Western Visayas.
