Balay Silangan in Miagao
LCEs ink MOA
MIAGAO, Iloilo – The Local Chief Executives from the seven municipalities of the First Congressional District pooled their resources together in preparation for the implementation of the Balay Silangan Reformation Center in the Municipality of Miagao.
The establishment was formalized through the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement at the Justice Ramon B. Britanico Hall on June 14, 2019.
In his speech, PDEA OIC Alex Tablate said that the Balay Silangan Reformation Center aims to adopt the implementation of a family-based in-house reformation program for drug offenders. In Miagao, it will be located in the town’s Evacuation Center in Barangay Baybay Norte.
The activity, attended by the local chief executives and representatives from the seven municipalities, members of the towns Municipal Anti-Drug Abuse Councils, Municipal Health Officers, Municipal Social Welfare Development Officers, representatives of the Civil Society Organizations, Sangguniang Bayan Members, Philippine Army, Philippine National Police and Municipal Local Government Operations Officers, will mark the beginning of a new life for the reformities in Miagao and its neighboring municipalities.
“It is a compassionate way of enforcing the anti-illegal drug law,” said Tablate
In his Welcome Remarks, Mayor Macario N. Napula, MD embraced the development for the Municipality. It may be noted that Miagao was amongst the first town to have been certified “drug cleared” by the PDEA.
Napulan, a physician by profession, said that the bad effect of illegal drugs is a very important issue to be looked into as he stressed that tokhang alone is not sufficient to address the menace.
“Rehabilitation is a must. If they (tokhang surrenderers) do not feel acceptance in the community they will eventually go back to their illegal activities. This Center will hopefully transform them into a good citizen we want them to become in the community,” said Napulan.
Once established, the Balay Silangan in Miagao will house 65 surrenderers from the first district, none of them is from Miagao though. Miagao, being the host Municipality, will hire personnel to man the facility for the period of one month – the length of stay of the surenderers in the facility.
Meantime, the Balay Silangan will be opened on July 8th. Prior the opening, the member agencies agreed for the screening of district-wide surrenderers at the JRBB Hall on June 25th.
Activities inside the Balay Silangan will include orientation and lectures and other necessary assistance from the Department of Trade and Industry and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority. (ABMande).
