PDEA-7 partners with LGUs to build rehabilitation centers

The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in Central Visayas will partner with the different local government units in Cebu in the implementation of its reformation program that aims to rehabilitate drug surrenderers.

PDEA-7 deputy regional director Thessa Albano Tuizen said they need the help of every municipality and component cities of the province to provide the needed facility for “Balay Silangan.”

The ‘Balay Silangan’ program will provide temporary shelters for drug offenders with the objective of reforming them into selfsufficient and law-abiding members of society.

The program was officially launched last April. It is a home-centered approach to help drug offenders renew their lives. It provides general interventions, like continuing education and health awareness, psychological, spiritual, physical activities such as counseling, moral recovery, values formation, personal and life skills, among others.

Tuizen said that in Cebu the program will be piloted in Danao City. The city government of Danao has offered to build the facility that could accommodate 30 to 40 drug surrenderers.

‘‘This is the main and one of priority program of PDEA-7 and the regional director to build and make functional rehabilitations for the drug pushers,’’ Tuizen said.

She admitted that funds and space are among the biggest challenges they are facing in making the program functional.

PDEA-7 is seeking the help of the private sector, especially the business community, to help in building the needed infrastructures for the program.—