CEBU, Philippines - The provincial government of Cebu has considered redesigning the proposed “Crisis Center,†a facility which would cater women and children who are victims of exploitation, to fit in with the P10-million allocation.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development-7 said the design submitted by the provincial government was “grand†and may cost more than the allocation.
“The ten million pesos would not be enough. They have an existing design but I think it’s more than the ten million pesos. But I think they have to consider redesigning it. They have to work within the budget of the province,†said Shalaine Marie Lucero, head of the DSWD-7 Protective Services Unit.
The province asked the national government thru DSWD to help fund the facility.
Lucero, however, said they have yet to determine how much the national government can set aside to augment the funding of the project.
“Katong bag-ong design nga ilang i-submit maoy atong basehan kung pila ang ma-release. Before we can say how much the national government can give, they have to look into the features, the facilities that we have to put into the center,†she added.
Secretary Corazon “Dinky†Soliman assured during the closing program of the Women’s Congress in March that the DSWD will help the province fund the new center. DSWD also assured technical assistance to mount the facility.
Vice Governor Agnes Magpale, chairperson of the Provincial Women’s Commission and Provincial Council for the Welfare of Children, is amenable to redesigning the facility. The existing design was created during the time of then governor Gwendolyn Garcia.
“Kung masunod man to nga design, nindot unta kaayo. I am amenable to redesign it. Ingon ko nila nga kung unsa lay maigo,†Magpale said.
She added that the center would be constructed in Sudlon, Barangay Lahug near the Cebu Provincial Police Office. — (FREEMAN)