Quezon City, PDEA open first ‘solvent kids’ reform center

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Quezon City local government yesterday formally opened the first reformation center that aims to save children hooked on solvent fumes.

PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino and mayor-elect Joy Belmonte inaugurated the Project Sagip Batang Solvent (PSBS) Reformation Center at Clemente Subdivision in Barangay San Agustin.

Aquino said this reformation center will serve as the model facility that will be established nationwide.

The facility currently has under its care 28 children identified as solvent users who will undergo a three to six-month reformation program.

The center can accommodate 60 children and has facilities such as study rooms, a multi-purpose hall and training rooms.

Belmonte thanked PDEA for “going beyond” its mandate by preventing children from being full-blown users of hard drugs.

She assured PDEA that the city government is ready to take over the facility and provide more support for the program. 

The reformation center was established through a memorandum of understanding between the PDEA and the city government signed last March.