Shelter for abused women, children underway

CEBU, Philippines — The Cebu provincial government is set to integrate mental health and trauma recovery programs into “Balay ni Neneng,” a planned shelter facility for women and children who have survived abuse and violence.

The development was announced during the second-quarter meeting of the Provincial Committee on Anti-Trafficking and Violence Against Women and their Children (PCAT-VAWC), chaired by Governor Pamela Baricuatro on May 26.

The addition of mental health interventions is an expansion of the province’s earlier plan to establish a dedicated shelter for abused women and children, which Baricuatro first announced during Women’s Month in March.

During the recent meeting, Provincial Health Office (PHO) chief Dr. Shiela Faciol presented a proposed healthcare framework for the facility that includes psychological first aid, trauma counseling, and access to medicines for mental health-related conditions.

Faciol said the province also intends to provide specialized therapy sessions for young survivors, particularly children dealing with trauma brought about by abuse and violence.

For child residents of the shelter, PHO is eyeing interventions such as play therapy and art therapy to help them process emotional distress and support recovery.

Faciol added that the provincial government has already secured medicines for conditions associated with anxiety, depression, and other mental health concerns, although partnerships with psychologists and mental health specialists are still being arranged.

The shelter project, called Balay ni Neneng, is part of the Capitol’s broader effort to strengthen protection and rehabilitation services for vulnerable sectors, especially women and children affected by abuse, trafficking, and domestic violence.

Earlier this year, Baricuatro said the project became necessary after learning that many victims rescued in abuse cases had nowhere to stay despite the arrest of suspects by authorities.

“Naa nay lugar, ang pag-build na lang sa building,” said the governor.

The governor previously explained that the province lacked a permanent and dedicated shelter after the former Provincial Women and Children Development Center in Sudlon, Barangay Lahug, Cebu City was later converted into a BUCAS Center under the previous administration.

Marirose Lopez, officer-in-charge of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, said the Women and Children in Crisis Intervention Center has already started supervising the installation of “smart houses” that will form part of the Balay ni Neneng compound.

Each housing unit is designed to accommodate around eight to 10 survivors and will contain air-conditioned living quarters, dining spaces, kitchen facilities, and administrative offices.

The setup aims to create a secure and structured environment where survivors can gradually recover and rebuild their lives.

Aside from shelter services, the Capitol is also strengthening its anti-trafficking response mechanisms across Cebu.

During the same meeting, officials disclosed plans to establish help desks and reinforce referral systems in major transportation terminals to provide faster assistance to trafficking and abuse victims.

The province earlier reported a decline in violence against women and children (VAWC) cases in Cebu based on data presented before the PCAT-VAWC.

Records from the Cebu Police Provincial Office showed that VAWC incidents from January to February 2026 dropped to 137 cases from 259 cases recorded during the same period in 2025.

The cases included violations of Republic Act No. 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act, acts of lasciviousness, rape, concubinage, and violations of Republic Act No. 11313 or the Safe Spaces Act.

Baricuatro previously attributed the decrease in reported cases to intensified prevention programs, including the “Police sa Panimalay” initiative of the Philippine National Police, which conducts house-to-house visits and distributes information materials to communities.

The provincial government has yet to announce the official launch date and completion timeline for Balay ni Neneng. (CEBU NEWS)