BALAY signed an agreement with government agencies for the rehabilitation of torture survivors and their families

BALAY signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the implementation of the PagHILOM program convened by the Department of Social Welfare and Development Office-Social Technology Bureau on July 4, 2007 in Davao Oriental.

The PagHILOM or the  Healing Intervention Leading to Optimum Management  for Victims of Torture and Enforced Disappearance and their Family Members program is created for the rehabilitation of survivors of torture under RA 9745 or the Anti-Torture Act of 2009.

The MOA focused on the holistic approach in rehabilitating survivors of torture and enforced disappearances and their families. It sought to support the organization of survivors association, the provision of therapeutic and reparation services, dissemination of the Anti Torture Act and the Anti Enforced Disappearance Act, and advocating for redress and human rights.

The DSWD has identified National Capitical Region, Region IX and Region XI as the 3 pilot areas to implement the program. For region XI, Davao Oriental was chosen to be the focused area.

Governor Nelson Dayanghirang of Davao Oriental enthusiastically accepted the program and signed the MOA. A comprehensive intervention will be given to group of survivors, particularly those who were documented and organized by BALAY.

Other agencies who signed the agreement are regional representatives of Department of Health (DOH), Department of Justice (DOJ), Commission on Human Rights (CHR), DSWD Region IX, and FIND.