MARIVELES, Bataan – This municipality is soon to receive two prestigious national awards for its good programs on children, differently-abled persons or Persons with Disabilities and senior citizens, town Mayor Jesse Concepcion announced over the weekend.
The mayor said they are on the short list of five local government units in the country from which the “Most Child-Friendly LGU” will be chosen.
Another award they expect to receive from Malacanang is the Apolinario Mabini award. “Our services for differently-abled persons are not only for Mariveles residents but for other towns in Bataan and other provinces in Central Luzon,” Concepcion said.
Dr. Danilo Velasco, municipal health officer and Dong-In Tulay Center administrator, said the center is the first and only LGU-run center in Central Luzon and the second in the country.
Adjacent to the center in the sprawling Mariveles municipal hall compound is the Persons with Disabilities office.
Dong-In Center, donated by a Korean group operating in the former Bataan Economic Zone, was established in 2005. Velasco said they offer free services on physical, occupational and speech therapy, early intervention and child psychology.
Other donors gave equipment and other needs of the center while the municipal government takes charge of the payroll of the staff, medicines and other maintenance expenses.
Velasco said the center serves an average of 15 patients daily and undergoes many sessions. Four consultants from the Philippine General Hospital regularly provide services.
