TUPI, South Cotabato — Eighteen clients of the South Cotabato Balay Silangan Reformatory Center (SCBSRC) received livelihood assistance worth P10,000 each after completing the facility’s nine-month reformatory program.
According to Earl Rey C. Madres, RSW, MTRM, Acting Center Head of the South Cotabato Balay Silangan Reformatory Center, the assistance aims to help the graduates start small income-generating activities or support employment opportunities that would enable them to rebuild stable and productive lives.
“Economic support plays a major role in successful reintegration, especially for recovering individuals seeking a fresh start,” Madres said.
He added that by providing livelihood assistance, the provincial government hopes to reduce the risk of relapse caused by unemployment, financial hardship, or social isolation.
The graduates belong to the facility’s 10th batch of reformists and are considered among the longest groups to complete the program due to the extensive monitoring and evaluation conducted on each participant.
Madres explained that the nine-month period was necessary to ensure that every client underwent comprehensive intervention procedures, including behavioral assessment, emotional and psychological support, values formation sessions, and preparation for community-based rehabilitation.
“The thorough evaluation and monitoring process was conducted to ensure that the clients are fully prepared to return to their families and communities as reformed individuals,” Madres said.
The Balay Silangan program serves as a community-based reformation center that provides temporary shelter, rehabilitation services, and intervention programs for individuals who surrendered or were identified as drug personalities under anti-illegal drug initiatives.
Officials emphasized that rehabilitation does not end upon graduation. Although the 18 clients have formally completed their stay at the facility, they will continue to undergo an 18-month aftercare program that will be closely monitored by their respective local government units (LGUs).
The aftercare phase is considered a vital component of the recovery process, ensuring that graduates maintain their progress and continue to receive support as they transition back into their communities. Monitoring activities may include regular check-ins, counseling, livelihood guidance, and participation in community programs designed to prevent relapse.
The initiative forms part of the broader rehabilitation and recovery programs being implemented by the Provincial Government of South Cotabato under the leadership of Governor Reynaldo S. Tamayo Jr., whose administration has consistently emphasized community-based development, inclusive social services, and human-centered governance.
Madres emphasized that the Balay Silangan program demonstrates the government’s belief that individuals battling addiction deserve opportunities for healing, recovery, and reintegration rather than stigma and exclusion.
Through programs such as Balay Silangan, the provincial government continues to promote a compassionate and restorative approach to addressing illegal drug problems by combining rehabilitation, psychosocial intervention, family involvement, and economic assistance.
As the graduates begin a new chapter in their lives, officials and families remain hopeful that the lessons learned during the nine-month reformatory program will guide them toward becoming responsible citizens, productive workers, and positive contributors to their communities.
