ILOILO City – Western Visayas has 39 Balay Silangan reformation centers for the rehabilitation of drug surrenderers.
Data from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) Region 6 showed Iloilo having 23 shelters, nine in Aklan, three in Capiz, two in Negros Occidental, and one each in Guimaras and Antique.
Where are these Balay Silangan located?
In Iloilo province, these centers were in Passi City and the towns of Miag-ao, Dingle, Bingawan, Guimbal, Igbaras, Concepcion, Pavia, Tubungan, New Lucena, Barotac Viejo, Santa Barbara, Pototan, Leganes, Lambunao, Batad, San Dionisio, Zarraga, Mina, Dueñas, Leon, San Joaquin, and Alimodian.
The towns of Lezo, Madalag, Libacao, New Washington, Banga, Malay, Nabas, Malinao, and Balete in Aklan also have their Balay Silangan.
In Capiz, there are centers in Tapaz, Jamindan, and Dao while Negros Occidental’s are found in Hinobaan and Pulupandan towns.
Guimaras has one in Nueva Valencia; Antique’s is in Hamtic.
According to Shey Tanaleon, PDEA-6 spokesperson, more Balay Silangan would be established in the region until such time all towns have their own.
Tanaleon said Balay Silangan offers reformatory programs. It is an alternative intervention for drug personalities who are not constant users and not eligible for medical treatment and rehabilitation facilities since they were pusher-surrenderers.
The center gives them temporary shelter with an objective to make them self-sufficient and law-abiding members of society, Tanaleon told Panay News.
REHAB
Who are being served by Balay Silangan?
Iloilo Police Provincial Director, Police Colonel Gilbert Gorero, said in accordance to the Dangerous Drug Board (DDB), the rehabilitation process is based on the category of persons who use illegal drugs – mild, moderate and severe.
Mild and moderate cases are drug personalities who are not constant users, and who had already stopped using drugs. They are welcome to undergo rehab in the Balay sSilangan, Gorero said.
The rehabilitation is conducted by rural health units and barangay officials, he added.
Meanwhile, those arrested for drug use or trade and had been convicted by the court fall to the severe category.
“For severe category, indi pwede sa barangay-based community rehabilitation center lang. Dapat sa mga dalagko nga centers nga recognized by the Department of Health (DOH) or any DOH-accredited private drug rehabilitation centers,” Gorero said.
In general, drug surrenderers undergo three-month rehabilitation in Bahay Silangan, but others could stay longer, if necessary.
Health authorities also check their health. If found fit, they will be given livelihood through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
“Depende sa talent sang isa ka surrenderer. If hilig nya mag pamanday i-train ina para pagbalik nya sa ila lugar may ubrahan na sia kay naka-undergo sia training. That’s how we help our drug surrenderers nga gusto mag bag-o,” Gorero said.
The scheme is: surrenderers will report to the Balay Silangan and perform certain tasks of the day, according to Gorero.
Various groups such as the police, PDEA, health, and religious sectors are extending services like seminars and training to these surrenderers, he added.
STARTING ANEW
Speaking to Panay News, 61-year-old Maria Denilla of Zone 5, Santa Barbara, Iloilo, presently at the Santa Barbara Balay Silangan, said she had vowed to start anew after nine years of drug use.
She tried using “shabu” when she was 31 years old. Denilla said she was influenced by her peers.
“Indi man ko adlaw-adlaw nga naga gamit…kon san-o lang may inogbakal. Upod ko akon mga friends, nag tilaw-tilaw man lang ako,” she said.
She stopped at age 40. She then decided to put up a carenderia.
Denilla said though she had since stopped using illegal drugs, her name was still included in the police drug list.
In order to clear her name, she surrendered to the Santa Barbara police station in 2020.
She underwent rehabilitation in the Balay Silangan and finished in February this year.
“Bisan nakatapos na ko rehab, diri man ‘ko gyapon sa Balay Silangan kag diri na ‘ko ga estar kay wala man ko bana. Akon pangabuhian ang pagtahi sang mga pot holders kag mga punda sang ulonan,” Denilla shared.
For now, Denilla is saving money as she plans to revive her carenderia./PN
