By Ali Macabalang
COTABATO CITY – Officials of Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) in Maguindanao have opened the “Balay Silangan Reformation and Treatment Center for Drug Law Offenders,” a first of its kind for the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Sultan Kudarat Mayor Shameen Mastura and PDEA-BARMM Deputy Regional Director and officer-in-charge Marlon P. Santos led the formal opening of the facility situated in the municipality.
Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency – Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao deputy director Marlon Santos speaks during the opening of Balay Silangan Reformation and Treatment Center for Drug Law Offenders in Sultan Kudarat, Maguindanao on Friday (March 23). (PHOTO COURTESY OF PDEA-BARMM / MANILA BULLETIN)
Santos said reformation center will implement a three-phase program, including the explanation and dissemination of Republic Act 91 65 (Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002) and other related laws among surrendered drug personalities.
The second phase will include development of personal and life skills of the “reformists” and the third and final stage is the livelihood programs to prepare them to go back to the mainstream.
Sultan Kudarat town alone has recorded 951 surrendered drug dependents since the implementation of the police “Oplan Tokhang” in late 2016.
Santos said that, of the 951 former drug personalities, 30 will take the “first step” in the life-changing process into a productive one, self-sufficient and law abiding citizens.
The reformatory process is the government’s post anti-drug operation program to give chance to drug personalities to take the right path to life.
Santos said Reformation Center runs with various livelihood training skills that include electrical wiring, welding, food production/processing, driving, machinery and a lot more.
The center also focuses on social values formation that will prepare them for reintegration to society.
“All of these will help them to have a good job opportunity,” Santos said.