DRUG-FREE. The downtown district of Dumaguete City is of one of three drug-free villages in Negros Oriental, as confirmed by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency on Monday (Nov. 14, 2022). A total of 53 villages in the city are confirmed to be cleared of drug pushers, users, dens, and clandestine drug laboratories. (Photo by Judy Flores Partlow)
DUMAGUETE CITY – The province of Negros Oriental has established three Balay Silangan facilities to cater to drug offenders undergoing reformation, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) said on Monday.
Carlito Mascardo Jr., PDEA-Negros Oriental assistant chief of operations, said during a Kapihan sa PIA (Philippine Information Agency) forum here that the facilities are in Basay, Pamplona, and Canlaon City.
Basay was the first to establish a Balay Silangan this year and had already produced graduates following a three-month program.
The adjacent Bayawan City signed an agreement with Basay to send their clients there pending the establishment of its own Balay Silangan.
Balay Silangan is a reformation center for drug offenders who undergo certain programs for treatment and rehabilitation, with livelihood opportunities such as training offered by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
Other partners include the Department of Labor and Employment and the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
PDEA is hoping that other local government units will follow suit and establish their own Balay Silangan, Mascardo added.
Meanwhile, Mascardo affirmed that 53 of the 557 villages in the province have been drug-free since July.
“These barangays (villages), since the start of the drug clearing operations a few years back, no longer have existing drug pushers, users, dens, and clandestine drug laboratories,” Mascardo said in mixed English and Cebuano.
These are Ban-ban, Candanaay, Lamigan, Nabhang, and Tibyawan in Ayungon; Mansangaban, Panam-angan, Tagpo, and Valencia in Bais City; Cabatuanan and Olandao in Basay; Villasol in Bayawan City; Atotes, Batangan, Cabcaban, Danao, Danawan, Nagcasunog, Piñahan, and Salong in Bindoy; Baslay in Dauin; Poblacion 4, 5, and 7 in Dumaguete City; Aglahug, Agutayon, Banog, Buto, Cabang, and Malabago in Jimalalud; Pangca in La Libertad; Cansal-ing in Mabinay; Balaas, Bantolinao, Candabong, Kauswagan, Bagtic, Salvacion, Tanglad, and Tubod in Manjuyod; Fatima and Inawasan in Pamplona; Si-it in Siaton; Enrique Villanueva in Sibulan; Buenavista and San Miguel in Sta. Catalina; Bahi-an and Sto. Niño, Tanjay City; Banga, Cambaye, Dalaupon, Numnum, and Pinocawan in Tayasan.
Mascardo said 150 other villages are classified as “slightly affected or moderately affected” but are already considered cleared after having complied with the requirements based on the criteria set by the Dangerous Drugs Board.
In this capital city, the PDEA official said drug dens have been monitored in three villages, namely, Looc, Cadawinon, and Calindagan, which he said are “seriously affected” by the illegal drug problem.
The three drug-free villages here -- Poblacion 4, 5, and 7 -- are understandably categorized as such considering they are in the downtown or central districts, with very little activity or people during night time, Mascardo said.
Mascardo said continuous monitoring should be undertaken, especially by the Barangay Anti-Drug Abuse Councils, to include checking for new drug personalities to ensure that the illegal drug problem will not recur. (PNA)
