Despite delays brought about by the pandemic, the city has started building a PHP70-million facility that will offer medical attention and treatment to children with special needs.
Councilor Antionette Principe, the chairperson of the committee on ethics and good government, said Thursday via the Davao City Disaster Radio the project was initially budgeted with some PHP40 million but the city increased the funding to have special design features that will offer more comfort and safety for the children.
“Originally, the construction should have started in 2020 as we have launched this landmark ordinance in February 2020 but due to our situation with the pandemic, it was not pushed through. Today, I am happy to share that the construction has started and the city has added PHP30 million more to finance a design best suited for our children with special needs patients,” Principe said.
The facility, aptly called Special Needs Intervention Center for Children, will offer an early intervention and transition program, and allied medical services including occupational, physical, and speech therapy.
“It is the policy of the city government of Davao to pursue the right of all citizens to (give) quality education and services and take appropriate steps to make education accessible to all and offer quality interventions for the children with developmental delays and behavioral concerns,” she said.
Presidential Decree 603 or the Child and Youth Welfare Code provides that emotionally disturbed or socially maladjusted children should be treated with sympathy and understanding and shall be entitled to treatment and competent care and that the physically or mentally handicapped child shall be given the treatment, education, and care.
She said the infrastructure, located near the People’s Park, is eyed for completion in January 2023.
She also announced that for its opening, many medical professionals and social workers will be offered jobs to man the operations of the building.
It will be equipped with a physical therapy room, swimming pool for aqua therapy, occupational therapy sensory gym, speech therapy, audio rooms, special education rooms, and an urban garden on the fourth floor. (PNA)
