Tuesday, September 6, 2022

Surigao Norte guv eyes provincial ‘Balay Silangan’

BUTUAN CITY -- Surigao del Norte Provincial Governor Robert Lyndon S. Barbers on Thursday, September 1, said that the Provincial Government will establish a provincial ‘Balay Silangan’.

Following the arrest of high-value targets in Barangay Mabua, Surigao City on August 31, 2022, Governor Barbers affirmed his “more than 100 percent” support to the campaign against illegal drug use and says that he is planning on establishing a provincial ‘Balay Silangan’, a temporary shelter for drug offenders who are undergoing rehabilitation. The program also forms part of the community-based rehabilitation program of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

The governor said he is still discussing the details with PDEA Surigao del Norte Provincial Director Randy Pulmano.

“Dili sija kon rehab center but murag ing-ana ang konsepto (It’s not really a rehab center but the concept is similar). We’ll get down to the details with regard to that program,” the official added.

During his stint as the provincial governor in 2007, Governor Barbers created the Anti-Vice Task Force to tackle illegal drug use and abuse in the province. While the official has disclosed that the task force will not be revived during his current term, he says he will continue to support the anti-illegal drugs campaign and the programs of PDEA through the provision of funds and other forms of support.

“It has been my personal advocacy to go against the people involved in drug trade and drug users,” he said.

“Definitely, I will be very active in terms of pagpakgan gajud sa tigpayuhot aning ginadili na droga (Definitely, I will be very active in terms of stopping those who continue to proliferate illegal drugs),” Governor Barbers added. (DMNR/PIA-Surigao del Norte)