ILOILO City – A halfway house to shelter street children may be erected by the city government.
“We could provide them with a temporary place to stay, especially those we often see sleeping on the sidewalks. If they want to leave the next morning,” they can,” said Mayor Jose Espinosa III.
Programs may also be designed to impart good values and life skills to these children while they are at the halfway house, the mayor added.
“Little by little, they would appreciate the services of the government,” said Espinosa.
A literacy program may also be offered to the halfway house street children who are likely school dropouts or have never been to school, according to the mayor.
The end-goal, said Espinosa, is to transform these children into productive members of society and return them to their families.
“Gusto ta gid tagaan importansya ini nga mga kabataan,” said Espinosa.
The City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) headed by was Gene Garingalao tasked to scout for a property where the halfway house would be constructed.
Espinosa said he was initially eyeing a property in Mandurriao district – a lot owned by the National Housing Authority.
It was a 4,000-square meter lot, said the mayor.
Aside from a new halfway house, Espinosa also plans to build a rehabilitation center for children-in-conflict-with-law (CICL).
A team from the National Juvenile Justice Welfare Council recently visited this city following the request of the city government for a P5-million fund for the “Balay Pag-Asa” rehabilitation center being envisioned.
The center will be similar to the city government’s “Dalayunan: Home for the Boys.”
“It will serve as a venue for group dynamic sessions. Young clients will be provided with proper guidance,” said Espinosa.
Dalayunan used to be managed by a non-government organization. It was later turned over to the city government. It caters to CICL between 15 to 17 years old with court cases.
Inside the facility, they are provided with psycho-social assistance, given informal classes in partnership with the Department of Education, free medical checkup from the City Health Office and legal assistance from the Public Attorney’s Office.
CSWDO has validated 300 street children in Iloilo City in 2016 and 155 CICL.
A comprehensive package is extended to street children and street families in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
From 2016 to 2017, educational assistance was provided to 74 high school and elementary pupils; hot meal for 33 days to 300 street children and skills training and livelihood assistance to 74 street families. (With a report from the Philippine News Agency/PN)