MOA SIGNING. Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Western Visayas Acting Regional Director Alex M. Tablate (left) and Passi City Mayor Jesry Palmares (second from left) with local chief executives of neighboring Iloilo towns sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the operationalization of Balay Silangan Reformation Center in Passi City on Wednesday (April 17, 2019). Two reformation centers, another one in Tapaz, Capiz, will open simultaneously on April 22 to cater to close to 50 drug pusher-surrenderers. (Photo courtesy of PDEA 6)
ILOILO CITY -- Two Balay Silangan Reformation Centers will start their operations on April 22, catering to close to 50 drug pusher-surrenderers from Capiz and Iloilo, according to the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Western Visayas.
Dave Garcia, PDEA 6 information officer, in an interview Wednesday, said the two reformation centers are based in Tapaz, Capiz and Passi City in Iloilo.
Through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), the center in Tapaz will also cater to pusher-surrenderers from the neighboring towns of Cuartero, Dumalag, Dumarao, Jamindan, Pan-ay, and Pilar. Passi City will also host pusher-surrenderers from towns of Calinog, Dueñas, Dingle, Pototan, and San Enrique.
The LGUs will also shell out funds to cover the expenses of their pusher-surrenderers to be accommodated at the facility.
The Tapaz center will cater to 28 clients, while Passi City has 15, comprised of six from the Pototan and nine from Calinog.
Six others from San Enrique and one from Passi City have yet to decide whether or not they will join the first batch because they are working, Garcia said.
Their concern had been referred to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), which expressed willingness to facilitate so that they can still have their jobs after graduating from the reformation center, he added.
“Not all pushers are eligible to enter. You are fortunate if you are selected,” Garcia said, adding that they must not be high-value targets and have no pending warrant of arrest.
Garcia said that upon their entry, the pusher-surrenderers will be very busy. The PDEA national office has prepared a program of instruction that will be used at the center.
“Our focal person for the Balay Silangan adjusted it a little to fit into the need of Region 6,” he said. What is supposed to be a three-month mandatory in-house training, it was compressed into one month.
The centers each has a program manager and support staff provided by the host local government unit.
Non-government organizations, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Trade and Industry will also come in to provide interventions.
After the month-long in-house training, they will undergo another two months of monitoring. Thereafter, they will be given their certificates of completion.
Garcia said that attending the center is very significant because it gives the client peace of mind after completion of requirements.
“As a pusher, your name will be delisted (from PDEA’s list). Also, the barangays where they reside will be cleared of drugs,” Garcia added. (PNA)
