The Balay Pasilungan or Baley Helunganan still serves as a temporary shelter for Indigenous People (IP), particularly young students who live in remote areas of Barangay Datu Salumay in Marilog District.
Faith Torres, Overseer of the Balay Pasilungan in Marilog District, told the City Information Office that former Datu Salumay Barangay Captain Marlyn Uayan took the initiative to build the facility in 2009.
She said the IP dormitory had additional construction after it was turned over to the city government in 2019. The City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) has been running the facility since 2021.
The dormitory provides temporary shelter for IP children, providing them food and even school supplies.
The dormitory currently houses 24 children— 16 girls and 8 boys – most of them walk for an hour to get to school. The dormitory has a social worker, a direct service implementer, and three house parents.
“That’s why dako ang atoang Balay Helunganan kay dako jud kaayo siya nga tabang para ani nga mga bata kay instead of every day mag-uli-uli sila gikan sa school diha na lang sila sa atoang center naga-stay (That’s why the Balay Helunganan is very beneficial to these children because they can stay in the center instead of going home from school),” she said.
She said the children go home during weekends.
She added that they hold capability-building activities for the children to help them enhance their skill set, making them proficient and adaptable in various areas of life. CIO
