ABRA - A new drug rehabilitation center, Balay Silangan, is slated to open in an agricultural town within Abra province, aimed at supporting residents from this town and neighboring municipalities in their recovery journey.
According to Philippines News Agency, the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) has allocated PHP5 million for the establishment of the facility following a request from the town. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on Saturday at the compound of the newly constructed municipal building in Barangay Patiao. Despite the town of Peñarrubia not facing a significant drug problem, Mayor Cecilia emphasized the importance of preemptive measures. "We do not have a drug problem. It is not much of a concern in Peñarrubia, but we want to ensure that we have a facility that will handle the rehabilitation of our townmates who might be led astray into engaging in illegal drugs activity," she stated in a phone interview with the Philippine News Agency.
The facility, which will be constructed on land donated by the municipal government, is set to feature living quarters, a cooking area, a gymnasium, and open areas for events and recreational activities for its "temporary residents" undergoing court-ordered rehabilitation. The mayor also noted that the center would be managed by the municipal government and secured by police.
Peñarrubia, with a population of approximately 6,951 across 1,672 households as per the 2020 census, is located about eight kilometers from the capital town Bangued.