Pangasinan Inaugurates First Provincial Reformation Facility in Ilocos Region

MALASIQUI: The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) has praised the opening of the Balay Silangan reformation facility in Burgos town, Pangasinan, designed to serve municipalities and cities without such centers. According to PDEA-Pangasinan Director Retchie Camacho, in a recent phone interview, eight municipalities have formalized their collaboration with the Pangasinan provincial government through a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to utilize the facility, which was inaugurated on December 7. This marks the first provincial reformation facility in the Ilocos Region. Camacho highlighted the facility’s significance for drug-affected municipalities lacking their own Balay Silangan, noting that it is expected to play a key role in clearing affected barangays from drug activities. Municipalities including Bani, Burgos, Binalonan, Dasol, Infanta, San Jacinto, San Nicolas, and Sual have signed the MOA. The facility, equipped with air-conditioned rooms, can accommodate up to 88 clients, with security provided by
the Pangasinan Police Provincial Office and staffed by the provincial government. Camacho clarified that the facility is designated for street-level drug pushers, not high-value targets, and is currently finalizing the first batch of clients. The program at Balay Silangan involves a one-month in-house program followed by two months of monitored progress outside the center, encompassing education, health, psychosocial, physical activities, and livelihood or employment education. Balay Silangan is a mandatory requirement for local government units (LGUs) to achieve a drug-cleared status. Other Balay Silangan facilities are operational in various locations across Pangasinan. Camacho also noted the significant progress in drug-clearing efforts in the province, with 1,157 out of 1,272 drug-affected barangays now cleared.