Mayor Sherwin T. Gatchalian and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Undersecretary for Policy and Program, the Honorable Alicia R. Bala led today the inauguration ceremony of the PhP 13.6 million, 894-square meter two-storey halfway home for abused and neglected children in Valenzuela City dubbed as “Bahay Kalinga.”

The activity is one of the highlights of Valenzuela City’s 14^th Charter Day Anniversary celebration, with the theme “14 na Regalo para sa 14 na Taon ng Maunlad na Lungsod ng Valenzuela.”

The structure which was a former impounding facility of the Valenzuela City Police Station located at R. Jacinto Street, Canumay West underwent an extensive renovation for the purpose of providing a new home for the Bahay Kalinga ng Valenzuela, a temporary shelter for street wanderers, foundling children and those recovering from any form of abuse, as determined by the city social workers.

Mayor WIN regarded the facility as “the symbol of the City Government’s commitment to social justice and protection.  With a better home, the Bahay Kalinga clients shall be able to pursue a better road to recovery to regain their self-worth and confidence.”

Supervised by the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), the facility is in pursuance to a number of several national and international laws, among them the Article 3, Section 2 of the Presidential Decree No. 603, known as the Child and Youth Welfare Code, which states that “every child has the right to a wholesome family life that will provide him with love, care and understanding, guidance and counseling, and moral and material security. The dependent or abandoned child shall be provided with the nearest substitute for a home.”

The shelter which was formerly located at an old single-storey facility in Veinte Reales now boasts with a school-like building complete with amenities, including a cafeteria, an isolation room, a gardening area and sex-segregated sleeping quarters with a total holding capacity of about 30 people

Psychological and physical check-up are being given to residents of the shelter to determine their physical and mental health.  They are allowed to stay in the shelter for a certain period of time, depending on the nature of their individual cases.