Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. on Nov. 22, 2022 led the opening ceremony of the newly-renovated city-run Home for the Girls.
Lazatin was with Vice Mayor Vicenta ‘Vicky’ Vega-Cabigting, City Engr. Donato Dizon, City Social Welfare and Development Officer Edna Duaso, Executive Assistant IV Reina Manuel, Quality Management System Officer Chrysalene Cunanan, Angeles City Economic Development and Investment Promotions Officer Irish Bonus-Llego, and Angeles City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer-in-Charge Rodolfo Simeon during its formal opening.
The Home for the Girls is a temporary residential facility which provides alternative form of family care to female children below 18 years old, who are victims of abuse and exploitation.
Located at the CSWDO in the City Hall Compound, the totally renovated facilities include rooms with double deck beds, living area, kitchen area, mess hall, comfort rooms, and even furnitures. The open space at the old Home for the Girls has also been converted to a recreational area.
Mayor Lazatin wants to provide a shelter which is conducive, safe, and adequate for these children with special needs.
“Our goal is the continuous care, protection, treatment and rehabilitation of the children, having a controlled therapeutic environment for their reintegration to their families and the communities,” Lazatin said.
CSWDO Officer Edna Duaso thanked Mayor Lazatin for his initiative in pushing for the improvement and renovation of the facility, with the supervision of Lazatin’s Chief Adviser IC Calaguas, City Engr. Dizon and Executive Assistant IV Reina Manuel.
To date, there are 15 girls who are under the custody of the Home for the Girls.
“We are doing our best to meet the special needs of these children, and be able provide psycho-social interventions to overcome their trauma and prepare them back to their families.
“Misyon po natin na matugunan ang mga pangangailangan ng nga batang ito para sa tuluyan nilang pagbangon, at normal na pamumuhay,” Duaso said.
The construction of the Home for the Girls started last August.
Calaguas further thanked the hard work of the CEO led by City Engr. Dizon, for the quick completion of the project.
Part of the flagship program of Mayor Lazatin is to look out for the welfare of kids especially those in dire need.