MANDAUE CITY – A two-storey building on a 3,200 square meter of land now sits the Hope of Mandaue Enhanced Children’s Center or HOME and the P8 million facility in the village of Basak here is the brainchild of First Lady Sarah Cortes, who heads the Mandaue City Council for the Protection of Children.
Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes and his wife inaugurated the facility. “This is a dream come true,” said Mrs. Cortes, adding, she brought up the idea of building HOME when her husband took over as mayor in 2007.
She said the development of the site cost P4 million and another P2 million for the concrete fencing. She said the Phase 2 which covers the girls’ quarter will follow and the last phase would consist of a building for abandoned, neglected and abused children.
“This will enhance our program for the children who are presently housed at Social Development Center,” social worker Maricel Yu said.
One street child named Jason said they are happy with the new facility. “Dako jud namo kalipay nga gitagad jud mi sa kagamhanan (We are very happy that the government cares for us.),” he said.
Jason is only one of many street children now studying under the Alternative Learning System of the local government.
The mayor said this new facility will provide for a better shelter for children who need guidance and protection.
To improve method of teaching, the local government equipped elementary and secondary school teachers with laptops, LCD projectors, printers and tablet computers, among others.
Cortes said the local government’s feeding programs is also on top of his priority in an effort to improve the health of children. He said scholarship programs were also granted to poor, but deserving students and street children who want to continue their education.
He said psychosocial therapy sessions and values formation, skills and leadership trainings, among others, were regularly being undertaken by the City Social Welfare and Services Department, especially to victims of child trafficking. “Every success of the children determines the future of our City. I am Mandaue. I am for good governance, I am for Education,” he said. (Cebu Examiner – MNS)
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