ILOILO Province – THE municipality of Mina here yesterday opened its Balay Paglaum, a center for Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL), women and children.

Built through Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) of Senator Pia Cayetano channeled through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) amounting to P2.5 million; PDAF of Cong. Arthur Defensor Jr. in the amount of P2.8 million; P1 million from their award for winning the Seal of Good Housekeeping from the Deparment of Interior and Local Government (DILG); P1 million from I-Care; P1.4 million from Mina and P300,000 from Iloilo Provincial Government.

“Isa ako sa sumasaludo sa opisyal ng Mina. This is only a fifth class municipality but because you have aimed high, kayo lang ang merong Balay Paglaum. Maliit man ang Mina at fifth class, maliit ang kita, pero napakalaki ng inyong puso. You have concern to the youth and families in crisis that’s why you came up with Balay Paglaum and that for me is a very good indicator t
hat the local officials are taking their job seriously. Hopefully, with example being set by Mina, other LGUs will also establish the same facility,” said DSWD regional director Ma. Evelyn Macapobre.

Balay Paglaum now stands on a 780 square meter lot beside the municipal hall with two floors. The floor houses CICL, dining area, living room, counseling room, dirty kitchen and store room. The second floor has the crisis center for women and children with 24-bed capacity, two rooms for victims of abused women and two rooms from CICL.

“We are encouraging barangay officials to focus on the preventive aspect. Ang hope ko kakaunti lang ang mga bata na papasok dyan sa building na yan. Sana hindi na sila dumating sa punto na kailangan na silang dalhin diyan. Sana konti lang ang kailangang tumira diyan because their family cannot provide them with a safe environment,” stressed Macapobre.

Records of the Regional Rehabilitation Center for Youth (RRCY) show that 39 percent of its residents currently come from Iloilo. Out of 44 cases, 17 are from the Province.

Per information from Home for Girls, a center operated by DSWD, 42 cases were recorded in 2012. Of this, 28 cases were from Iloilo comprising 66.66 percent. This year, a total of 28 cases were recorded so far. Of the number, 16 are from Iloilo comprising 57.14 percent.

On cases of domestic violence recorded by the Regional Center for Women, also a center managed by DSWD, a big portion also came from Iloilo Province comprising 53 percent of 49 cases or 26 in number last year. This year, a total of 32 cases were recorded, of which 78 percent or 25 cases came from Iloilo.

Per records of the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office of Mina this year, they had five cases of CICL, 10 cases of child abuse and 10 cases of domestic violence.

For her part, Mayor Lydia Grabato said, “We envision a free, caring, harmonious and empowered Municipality which does not tolerate violence and all forms of injustice, exploitation and abuse on women, children and other members of the family. Balay Paglaum is committed into breaking the cycle of violence among women, children, and other members of the family.”

Also present were incoming mayor Rey Grabato, Iloilo Governor Arthur Defensor Sr., Badiangan mayor Suzette Mamon, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office representative Niema Villan, Feli Sustento of Colegio Del Sagrado de Jesus, Dr. Lee Pineda of Child Fund Japan, and Senior Inspector Cecile Hulleza of the Regional Women and Children’s Protection Center./dswd6