Lapu-Lapu City to replicate La Union’s drug rehab program

CEBU, Philippines — La Union’s Balay Silangan Reformation Center will soon be replicated in Lapu-Lapu City.

This after the representatives of the City of Lapu-Lapu Office for Substance Abuse Prevention (CLOSAP) visited the place to learn its best practices on drug rehabilitation programs.

The group was sent by Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard "Ahong" Chan to visit the center located in the municipality of Bangar.

The center is a community-based reformation program aimed to rehabilitate persons who use drugs (PWUDs).

CLOSAP, headed by Gary Lao, was allowed to immerse and interact with Balay Silangan workers and beneficiaries and observed some of the values formation and integrity sessions.

“This immersion is very helpful to us as we come to know and learn about so many things in running Balay Silangan. By seeing it, it is challenging but we are committed to making it happen in Lapu-Lapu City," Lao said in a statement.

Lao added that what is important is that the local government is able to provide support to drug offenders and a solution to the drug problem.

“We are thankful to Mayor Joy Pinzon Merin and Balay Silangan personnel for receiving us well and showing us how successful they’ve been running this facility,” Lao added.

Balay Silangan, a national drug reformation program established by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and implemented with the Philippine National Police and host LGUs, is a temporary refuge to reform drug offenders into self-sufficient and law-abiding members of society.

Lao further said that PDEA had been pushing LGUs to provide services to surrendered drug offenders covering general interventions, such as continuing education and health awareness, psychological, spiritual and physical activities, counseling, moral recovery, values formation, personal and life skills, among others. — GMR (FREEMAN)