Reform house for pushers sought

A Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) official urged local government units (LGUs) in Central Visayas to establish a community-based reformation program for pushers.

PDEA 7 Deputy Director Thessa Albano-Tiuzen said the Danao City Government is the only LGU so far to pledge a Balay Silangan establishment in the region.

Danao City, she said, already had identified a building for the reformation program.

She said Balay Silangan was initiated by the PDEA national headquarters early this year as a program to reform small-time pushers who surrendered during Oplan Tokhang operations and those who were released from jails after they entered into a plea bargaining agreement.

Eligible for the Balay Silangan program are drug personalities who surrendered with no pending criminal cases, warrant of arrest, or identification as a high-value target; those who availed themselves of the plea bargaining agreement or those convicted under Section 15 of Republic Act 9165; and those who served terms for violation of RA 9165.

Tiuzen said the Balay Silangan module for pushers is different from that of users since most of them do not use illegal drugs.

Bahay Silangan, she said, aims to discourage pushers from returning to selling illegal drugs and gives them livelihood.

Meanwhile, the Cebu Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Office (CPADAO) believes that the LGUs in Cebu will be able to build reformative facilities.

But CPADAO Director Carmen Remedios “Ivy” Durano-Meca said it may take time due to limited resources.

Meca told SunStar Cebu that Danao City was able to put up a Balay Silangan because it already has an existing facility for that purpose.

Its active City Anti-Drug Abuse Office (CADAO) is also instrumental in ensuring that the Balay Silangan can be sustained through constant follow-up with the city government.

But Meca said that the Danao City Government cannot work on its own in implementing the Balay Silangan’s services.