SAN JOSE, Antique – This province is eyeing to become the first in Western Visayas to be declared as “drug-free” following the launching of Balay Silangan, or the shelter for drug surenderees, located in the municipality of Hamtic on Feb. 28.
Antique Provincial Police Office director Colonel Roy Parena said that the establishment of Balay Silangan is a requirement for this province to be cleared from drugs.
“Hopefully, the province of Antique could attain the historical record as the first province to be declared as drug-free in Western Visayas,” he said.
The colonel added that the goal of the province could be realized through a concerted effort with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) of Western Visayas and other government agencies concerned.
“With the Balay Silangan now, we need to fast track the drug clearing operations,” he stressed.
According to PDEA acting Regional Director Alex Tablate, this province, which has a total of 590 villages, only has seven remaining barangays left to be declared as drug-free.
“Antique has so far the highest number of barangays declared as drug-cleared in Western Visayas,” he said during the launching of the Balay Silangan.
The villages in this province that are yet to be declared free from drugs include one each in the municipalities of Culasi, Tibiao, Hamtic and Caluya, while this capital town has three.
Tablate added that this province could be hopefully declared as drug-free within this year.
With the launching of the Balay Silangan in the old building formerly used by the Department of Education, there would be an initial of 40 drug surrenderers who would be admitted as clients that would undergo a rehabilitation program by PDEA, along with the local government unit of Hamtic town supervising the facility.
Mayors from the other municipalities in this province, particularly from this capital town, Barbaza, Laua-an, Tibiao and Tobias Fornier have already signed a memorandum of agreement with Hamtic Mayor Julius Pacificador, wherein they would also provide the needed funds for their constituents who would be admitted in the shelter for drug surrenderers.
“In the MOA, our LGU San Jose de Buenavista will provide the needed amount for the one-month stay of our drug pusher surrenderers,” Mayor Elmer Untaran said.
However, he added that the amount this capital town would be contributing to Hamtic town has yet to be finalized.
San Jose de Buenavista will have 10 clients among the 40 who would be admitted to the Balay Silangan.
For his part, Lau-an town Mayor Francisco said that four clients from his municipality will undergo rehabilitation in the said shelter.(With a report from PNA/PN)
