Laoag City—As continuing support to the nationwide anti-illegal drugs campaign of President Rodrigo R. Duterte, the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) granted PHP5 million to the Ilocos Norte provincial government to fund the construction of a community-based rehabilitation facility at Brgy. Tamdagan in Vintar.
DDB Undersecretary Earl Saavedra personally handed the check to Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc on December 13, 2019 at the Provincial Capitol.
“We put communities at the center of all our anti-drug efforts and our intention is to really help local government units put up rehabilitation facilities na tutulong sa ating mga kababayan na napariwara ang landas at naging biktima ng paggamit ng illegal na droga,” Mr. Saavedra remarked.
“Itong community-based rehabilitation facility na ipapatayo dito sa Ilocos Norte ay initiative ni Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc because in his persistent discussion with the DDB, nabanggit ni governor na priority niya ang drug abuse prevention and control agenda ng national government,” he added.
The rehabilitation center will serve as an “outpatient processing center” for mild to moderate drug-dependent persons. This will be manned by social workers and health personnel for the holistic reformation of drug abusers.
“I’m very thankful to him [Mr. Saavedra] for facilitating this donation and for helping us throughout the process even though drugs is not a major problem here in Ilocos Norte. We all know that this is the focus of this administration and needs to be place at the forefront kahit hindi po siya malaking problema. For the few that are affected we’d like them to receive the help that they deserve; to comeback to a more wholesome world so we help them with that process,” Mr. Manotoc expressed.
‘Drug-cleared’ status requires ‘Balay Silangan’ facility
Accordingto Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) provincial officer Dheo A. Tabor, a municipality or city should have an operating Bahay Silangan, “a temporary shelter for drug offenders with the objective of reforming them into self-sufficient and law-abiding members of society,” to be declared as drug-cleared.
To date, the municipalities of Adams, Bacarra, Banna, Burgos, Carasi, Currimao, Dumalneg, Marcos, and Vintar have been recognized as “drug-cleared,” however, these are still under revalidation of the PDEA.
Meanwhile, during the Multi-Council Meeting at the Provincial Capitol Auditorium on December 4, 2019, Mr. Tabor reported 175 plea bargain cases in the province.
According to court orders, these individuals need to enroll in a rehabilitation center like Balay Silangan until their sentence is served since they are counted as active drug personalities.
Moreover, the first Balay Silangan in the province was inaugurated in the Municipality of Dingras on December 17, 2019. While the Municipalities of Piddig and Vintar are still waiting for the inspection of their proposed “Balay Silangan” buildings if it meets national standards. (Blessing Angel V. Agliam)