Expanded child welfare center gets council nod

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City will soon have an expanded child welfare center following the council's approval of an ordinance authored by Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera.

The center will serve as a temporary home for rescued children.

The ordinance, "Cebu City Child Welfare Center," was approved on third and final reading during the most recent session of the Cebu City Council.

According to the ordinance, the previous legislative body enacted Ordinance 1087 on January 19, 1981, creating the Cebu City Community Scouts Commission, which was tasked with administering, controlling, and supervising programs for out-of-school youth who are members of the Boy Scouts of the Philippines.

However, through the years, the operation of the Community Scouts evolved from simply developing programs for out-of-school boy scouts to handling and managing a facility housing male youth who are in conflict with the law and among the street children.

As an offshoot, the Cebu City Community Scouts Youth Guidance Center was established without any ordinance supporting its creation, which has caused  confusion as to its nature, raising a question whether it is government owned or privately owned.

 The Cebu City Government is committed to eliminate the presence of street children vis-a-vis adherence to the promotion of positive discipline,  read an excerpt from the ordinance.

Because of this, it added that there is a need to institutionalize the establishment of the Cebu City Child Welfare Center.

On November 22, 2023, the City Council approved City Ordinance 2726, reorganizing the Department of Social Welfare Services (DSWS).

The ordinance included a provision under Rule VII (Center-Based Division), Section 15, Paragraph 2, stating that the DSWS shall oversee and manage the child welfare center as a temporary shelter for rescued males, aged 7 to 14 years old, who are considered children in need of special protection and those at risk.

In line with this, the ordinance said that in recognition of the evolving societal landscape and the increasing prevalence of diverse challenges faced by children, there is a pressing need to enhance and expand the services provided by the child welfare center.

 The expansion aims to encompass not only male children but also their female counterparts, ensuring a more inclusive and equitable approach to addressing the specific needs of children in our community who are in need of special protection and those identified as being at risk,  Pesquera's ordinance said.

The ordinance aded that the proposed child welfare center played a vital role in safeguarding the welfare of male children; however, acknowledging the unique vulnerabilities and circumstances faced by female children is also paramount.

The proposed expansion of the measure sought to create a more comprehensive support framework that caters to the distinct needs of both genders, fostering an environment of equality, protection, and empowerment.

 By broadening the center's scope, we aspire to establish a model of care that embraces the diverse needs of all children, irrespective of their gender, thereby contributing to a more resilient and compassionate community,  a portion of the ordinance read.

Included in the ordinance is a provision that required appropriations to cover expenses related to signage, stationery, infrastructure, and other essential materials required for a continuous transition to a wider scope, including the operation and maintenance of the home for children.