'Halfway' home for abused women, children up in North Cotabato

KIDAPAWAN CITY–- A newly built home for abused women and children in North Cotabato is expected to help the affected sectors recover fast and move forward in life, a provincial official Thursday said.North Cotabato Gov. Emmylou Mendoza, in leading the inauguration of the Home for Women and Children inside the Amas provincial capitol grounds, said that the government’s responsibility is to protect and ensure the safety of women and children who unfortunately suffered abuses. It is part of our responsibilities as provincial officials to ensure the protection and safety of women and children especially those who suffer from abuses,” she said.The PHP5 million building was funded by the provincial government and has an additional PHP375,000 funds for beds, dining table, bathrooms, kitchen utensils and chairs. It has a 24-bed capacity for persons who are victims of domestic, physical, sexual and emotional abuses.Mendoza said the facility aims to serve the needs of women and children experiencing domestic problems and address the growing number of individuals having difficulties brought about by various factors.She said the facility will provide methods used to offer immediate, short-term help to individuals who experience emotional, mental, physical, and behavioral distress or problems.Vergelita D. Guilaran, provincial social welfare and development officer, said the inauguration of the new building is very timely in line with the efforts of the provincial government to provide assistance to women and children in need of special protection and those in difficult circumstances being victims of violence and other abuses.To date, PSWD has in custody and supervision 16 children who have moved to their new home” following the inauguration Thursday.