The Mental Health Code of Davao City that was proposed by Councilor Mary Joselle Villafuerte, chairperson of the committee on health of the city council is still pending for second reading.
“We intend to present it this month but we were overtaken by events (such as filing of candidacy) so before Christmas,” Villafuerte said on Monday.
She said once the proposed ordinance passes through second reading, it will be likely approved in the third reading.
She discussed that one of the ordinance’s provision is the creation of another unit under City Health. This unit will be in-charge the mental health issues and halfway home for people with mental disorders.
“This office will create programs and train personnel needed for mental health. So all mental health issues that will affect the city will be taken cared of this office,” she said.
She said that the division head will be a psychiatrist, under that will be three psychologist one per district, three mental health nurses one per district and three social worker one per district which are all trained in mental health.
She said that the city hall employees will benefit to this because they can also avail of their services but above all the community because there will be a specific office that will handle mental health.
She said that the halfway home is a small facility that will cater out patients and there will be two rooms available if the patient cannot go home. The facility needs a five million budget for a one story facility.
