BORONGAN, January 30, 2018–A house that will serve as a haven for abused women and children was recently turned over by the Consuelo Foundation to the Provincial Government.
The two-story building is located beside the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office at the Provincial Capitol compound.
Atty. Carmele Andal Castro, Managing Director of the foundation said they put up crisis centers to help and give hope to marginalized and abused women and children.
PSWDO Josefina Paligutan said the center will become the sanctuary if 15 young women who are now under their care.
They were rescued by social workers from abusive homes in different towns. Many of them are from Oras. Most were physically and sexually abused.
As its counterpart, the provincial government has allocated P1.5M for the operation of the center where social workers will do rehabilitation and restorative interventions, for the women to regain their confidence and hopefully build normal lives.
Acting Governor Marcelo Picardal said that if “we want a progressive province, we must not allow our women and children to be abused, violated and discriminated. We must make sure that their rights are respected”.
Picardal challenged the Provincial Social Welfare office to engage women in programs that will empower them and teach them to fight and stand for their rights.
For his part, he will focus on agriculture programs that would include women as beneficiaries. “Women should be given livelihood opportunities because they play a big part in the war against poverty”.
The Consuelo Foundation is a private entity that operates and support programs to prevent abuse and exploitation of women, children and families.
The new center is just one of many projects implemented by the foundation in Eastern Samar after super typhoon Yolanda. (Eden Cidro/Este News)
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