The City Government of Davao inaugurated on Friday the Davao City Special Needs Intervention Center for Children (DCSNICC) located beside the People’s Park in Davao City.
The DCSNICC, established under the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), provides early intervention services for indigent children aged 0-6 years and 364 days old with developmental delays or disabilities.
Institutionalized through City Ordinance No. 0230-20, authored by Councilor Antoinette Principe, the center addresses the increasing need for accessible developmental assessments and interventions in Davao City. This project was first initiated by then mayor, now Vice President Inday Sara Duterte and was continued by Mayor Sebastian Duterte.
“Throughout history, children with special needs have been faced with numerous barriers that hinder their optimum growth and development – like the lack of access to and the prohibitive costs of essential intervention services, such as medical assessments and therapy; limited access to appropriate education and other opportunities; and societal stigma,” the mayor said in his message read by Second District Councilor Richlyn N. Justol-Baguilod, who chairs the Committee on Health.
According to the CSWDO, DCSNICC primarily caters to indigent families residing in Davao City with children aged 0-6 years and 364 days old who exhibit developmental delays or disabilities, such as intellectual disability, global developmental delay, autism spectrum disorder, speech or language impairment, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, specific leaming disorder, physical disability, visual impairment, hearing impairment/hearing loss, sensory delays, cognitive delays.
“These challenges often put families in financial and emotional strain as they struggle to afford the necessary interventions that will enable their children to learn, adapt and become ready for the world,” the mayor said.
DCSNICC operates with a multidisciplinary team of professionals who provide a wide range of intervention services tailored to each child’s developmental needs. These include:
– Developmental Pediatric Consultation – Medical evaluation and diagnosis of developmental conditions.
– Occupational Therapy (OT) – Improving fine motor skills, sensory integration, and self-care abilities,
– Physical Therapy (PT) – Enhancing mobility, coordination, posture, and gross motor skills.
– Speech Therapy (ST) – Addressing speech delays, communication disorders, and feeding difficulties.
– Special Education (SPED) – Providing structured learning support for cognitive and adaptive skill development.
– Audiology Services – Conducting hearing assessments and necessary interventions.
– Social Work Services – Case management, family counseling, and referral to community resources.
– Parent and Caregiver Training – Educating families on how to support their child’s development at home.
The CSWDO emphasized that through early intervention, collaboration, and advocacy, the center plays a vital role in shaping a better future for the children of Davao City.
The mayor said the city government, through the previous administration and the 19th City Council, sought to address this concern with the approval of DavaoCity Ordinance No. 0230-20 – An Ordinance Creating the Davao City Special Needs Intervention Center for Children.
“And while the pandemic may have halted efforts to launch the center earlier, today it is truly wonderful to finally see its doors open for children with special needsand their families.
With a multidisciplinary team of professionals who will provide intervention services tailored to each child’s developmental needs, with this facility, we shall be able to provide specialized care and education to indigent Dabawenyo children with special needs,” the mayor said.
The center operates from 8AM to 5PM during weekdays. For more information about the center, kindly contact the CSWDO at (082) 295-3500.
