Angeles City Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr. talks to a mentally challenged individual before turning him over to a facility. The city government said among its priority agenda is looking after the welfare of distressed children and women, homeless, and mentally challenged individuals. (Angeles CIO)
ANGELES CITY — The city government of Angeles continues to prioritize the welfare of children.
Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr. said as early as infancy, health workers in the city have administered Vitamin A supplements and deworming to 4,154 kids; while a total of 4,554 kids aged one year old and 783 kids aged 5 years old were also fully immunized including deworming, rubella, polio, and measles.
“We also regularly conduct the Operation Timbang to kids aged 5 years below to identify malnourished kids, and monitor them through a supplementary feeding program. The City Nutrition Office has been supervising this program for 44,130 Angeleño children,” he said.
Also, records from the City Social Welfare and Development Office showed a total of 3,040 children were monitored for 120 days through a supplemental feeding program and 1,010 kids for milk feeding.
He said the city is also keen on protecting the rights of abandoned and neglected children.
“Currently, we have 47 children temporarily housed at Bahay Pag-Asa, while 24 abandoned and neglected kids are now at the Home for Girls.,” the mayor said.
In addition to children, the city also prioritizes the welfare of mentally challenged individuals.
“We have also literally hit the ground running throughout the streets of Angeles City, rescuing homeless individuals, especially those who have mental health problems,” Lazatin said.
To date, 63 mentally-challenged individuals were referred for treatment to the city’s partner mental institutions. Sixteen of these were already discharged and reintegrated into their respective families.
The Angeles City Government has also signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Metro Psych Facility in Pasay and St. Claire Homecare Inc. for the treatment of mentally-ill and physically-ill challenged individuals rescued from the streets, whether they are Angeleños or not.
“We have allocated P11 million under the GAD fund, for the Integrated Mental Health Services for Persons with Mental and Psychological Challenges to fund the treatment of mentally challenged individuals,” Lazatin said.
Meanwhile, the mayor added that they are also reinforcing the call to end harassment and cruelty to women and children by activating and strengthening the Anti-Violence Against Women and Children Paralegal Office and desks in the city’s 33 barangays, as well as in their online platform to continue to assist clients who would like to avail of free legal assistance.
Also, online seminars on sexual harassment and Safe Space Act and human-trafficking are also conducted regularly. –Marie Joy Carbungco/PIA 3
