ILOILO – Taking seriously the eradication of illegal drugs, the Iloilo Police Provincial Office (IPPO) has created 23 Bahay Silangan, a temporary shelter for drug surrenderers and drug pushers.
The town of Alimodian was the 23rd area to launched a Bahay Silangan.
In the municipality’s Barangay Binalud, the launching on April 4 was graced by Mayor Geefre Alonsabe, municipal officials and IPPO director Police Colonel Gilbert Gorero.
“Bahay Silangan will serve as the second home of a person who used drugs (PWUD) who wanted to change and become a productive, law-abiding and god-fearing citizen,” Gorero said.
This is also among the requirements of the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) in barangay drug-clearing operations, and part of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency’s (PDEA) harm reduction efforts; drug surrenderers are offered the chance to have a better life and become self-sufficient law-abiding citizens.
Bahay Silangan is a multi-sectoral effort by the national government’s Municipal Health Office (MHO), Municipal Social Welfare Development (MSWD), PDEA, Philippine National Police, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Health, Civil Society, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
Recently, Iloilo province had 16 barangays declared by multi-sectoral committee free from illegal drugs.
Bahay Silangan is a mandatory house reformation for a local government unit to sustain its programs on war against illegal drugs.
“We are really serious in eradicating illegal drugs in our area. We not only conduct operations but also have programs for the drug surrenderers and drug dependents. We want to change their lives for the better,” Gorero added.
Based on the record of PDEA-6, Westen Visayas has 35 Bahay Silangan.
Iloilo province has the most numbers of these facilities with 23. Capiz has three, six in Aklan and one each in the provinces of Guimaras, Negros Occidental and Antique./PN
