REFORMATION CENTER. Mayor Roseller Rodriguez delivers his message during the inauguration of the Balay Silangan Reformation Center in Barangay Cutcut 1st, Capas, Tarlac on Wednesday (Nov. 15, 2023). This is the fifth reformation center in Tarlac that will serve as a temporary refuge for drug offenders to reform them into self-sufficient and law-abiding members of society. (Photo courtesy of PDEA-Central Luzon)
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – The fifth Balay Silangan Reformation Center in the province of Tarlac will soon benefit former drug users as part of the government’s continuing efforts against illegal drugs.
Situated in Barangay Cutcut 1st in Capas town, the facility that was inaugurated on Wednesday would serve as a temporary refuge for drug offenders as they receive intervention to become self-sufficient and law-abiding members of society.
Capas Mayor Roseller Rodriguez said the Capas Balay Silangan Reformation Center represents their commitment to providing interventions, such as livelihood and training programs to support the rehabilitation and reintegration of drug personalities who have voluntarily surrendered.
“Mapalad po ang ating bayan ng Capas dahil isa tayo sa nakapagpatayo ng Balay Silangan. Ito ay upang matugunan ang pangangailangan at makapagbigay kalinga sa ating mga kababayan. Dito po ay may pagkakataon sila na mabago ang kanilang pamumuhay at magkaroon ng bagong pag-asa. Maraming salamat po sa lahat ng tumulong upang maisakatuparan natin ito (Our town of Capas is blessed because we are one of those who were able to build Balay Silangan. This is in response to the needs and to give attention to our townmates. Here, they have the opportunity to change their lives and have new hope. Thank you very much to all those who helped us to achieve this),” he said during the livestreamed event.
The Balay Silangan reformation program will be jointly implemented by the municipal government of Capas and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).
During the inauguration, a memorandum of agreement was signed by PDEA and local officials for the implementation of the undertaking.
Interventions to be provided in the program include continuing education and health awareness, and psychological/spiritual/physical activities like counseling, moral recovery, values formation and personal life skills.
Livelihood and skills training will also be provided by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
The inauguration ceremony of the fifth Balay Silangan Reformation Center in the province was led by PDEA-Central Luzon Deputy Regional Director Jill Salamanca-Verceles, along with PDEA-Tarlac Intelligence Officer III Dheo Tabor.
Aside from Rodriguez, other officials who attended the event include Vice Mayor Alex Espinosa; Lt. Cololen Fritz Tabulla, chief of the Police Community Affairs and Development Unit; Lt. Col. Librado Manarang, Capas Municipal Police Station chief; Maria Teresa Marquez, Capas Municipal Local Government Operations officer; and Gerry Gomez, a representative of the TESDA-Tarlac.
Balay Silangan is a requirement for every local government unit in the country to attain a drug-cleared status.
The other Balay Silangan facilities in Tarlac are in Gerona, Camiling, Victoria and Moncada.
There are now 39 Balay Silangan Reformation Centers in the entire Central Luzon. (PNA)
