Pagudpud opens resort for drug reformists

By Leilanie G. Adriano (Staff Reporter)

Pagudpud, Ilocos Norte—A beach resort at Brgy. Burayoc in this town was officially opened on Sept. 30, 2020 to temporary house former drug dependents.

In a simple program during the opening and blessing of the “Kanlungan ni Kuya”, a two-story building with a beach front, overlooking the West Philippine Sea, Pagudpud mayor Rafael Ralph Benemerito II hopes the facility will be put into good use through the active participation of the 36 former drug surrenderers who will be housed in the area for at least 30 days under the watch of the local government unit and the Philippine National Police in Pagudpud town.

“I hope that they will become productive during their stay here as guests,” he said.

The “Bahay Silangan”, locally known as “Kanlungan ni Kuya" is a reformation center for Pagudpud residents who had been victims of drug abuse. The program offers values formation and livelihood opportunities which are meant to empower them as good and law-abiding citizens.

While a permanent reformation center and evacuation center at Brgy. Ligaya is still under construction, Mr. Benemerito said the reforming drug offenders can stay at the newly-opened facility where various skills training such as coffin-making and handicrafts making will be taught to them through the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

In his speech during the inauguration program, Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency Region I director Bryan Babang said the agency continues to enhance their operation and implement various strategies to eradicate prohibited drugs in the country.

To date, Pagudpud town has a total of 217 persons under the drug watchlist and four out of the 14 drug-affected barangays are now cleared, according to a PDEA report.

“Thank you for your effort in cleaning your municipality from illegal drugs,” said Mr. Babang.

In Region 1, records show that 22,530 out of the total of 27,550 under the Barangay Anti-drug Abuse Council watchlist have already “graduated” from the community-based drug rehabilitation program.

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