ANGELES CITY — Some 30 drug offenders housed at the Balay Silangan Reformation Center here were escorted on-site at the City College of Angeles to get their vaccinations the other day.
“Nasa pangangalaga po sila ng siyudad, kaya bilang parte po ng ating pagtulong sa kanila sa panibagong buhay at pagkakataon, nais din po ni Mayor Lazatin na bakunado at protektado sila,” said IC Calaguas, Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr.’s Chief Adviser.
Calaguas said the wards were escorted by staff of the Angeles City Anti-Drug Abuse Council led by Richard Alan Saul.
“Importante pong ayos ang kalusugan nila, lalo na’t kinikilala rin po natin silang bahagi ng lipunan na nais magbagong buhay,” Calaguas furthered.
To date, 38.95% or 180,323 have received their first dose of vaccines while 34.40 % or 159,273 are already fully vaccinated.
Balay Silangan, a project initiated by Former Director General Aaron Aquino of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), is a reformation Center for illegal drugs offenders so they can be more productive members of the society.
The program aims to give them a second chance at job opportunities, reintegrating them with their families and communities.
Located in Barangay Pulung Maragul, this is the first Balay Silangan Reformation Program Center in Pampanga.
It was inaugurated on October 22, 2020, since part of the six-point Agenda of Mayor Lazatin is to ensure a drug-free city.
As of July, 140 drug offenders have already graduated from the Balay Silangan.
