AGOO, La Union: The country’s first local government unit-operated drug rehabilitation center opened in La Union province last Thursday. The out-patient rehabilitation center also includes Balay Silangan, a satellite office and reformation center of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) near the rehab center, which will cater to the needs of drug users from La Union and nearby towns of Pangasinan. It will be the first Reformation Center established in Northern Luzon to be used as a temporary shelter for drug dependents who surrendered to authorities and who are in the process of rehabilitation. Agoo Mayor Stefanie Eriguel and La Union Second District Rep. Sandra Eriguel initiated the project in cooperation with PDEA, the Department of Health and other agencies. “Drug offenders here are given livelihood skills training and various reformatory programs to prepare them to become renewed and productive citizens upon their reintegration into society,” Rep. Eriguel told The Manila Times.

Source: Manila Times September 15, 2018 16:18 UTC