Former President Rodrigo Duterte promised to extend the said facility to make it spacious for the children during his visit on December 23, 2022, together with common-law wife Honeylet Avanceña and Senator Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go.
“Gusto kong malaman kung masikip na ba dito o maluwag pa? Kasi mga anak ko kayo pagawaan ko kayo ng bahay na maganda. Hindi naman ako mayor at hindi na ako president, retired na ako ibig sabihin tapos na ako sa aking trabaho sa mundong ito, ngayon kulang man nandito si, hindi nyo lang alam, noon ang palagi kong kasama parang assistant ko si Senator Bong Go. Ngayon ang assistant naging senador siya, so Bong narinig mo naman masikip na,” he said.
He also said he will ask support from his sons, Congressman Pulong and Mayor Baste, to help him extend the said facility, which now houses 50 children.
“May problema tayo ngayon medyo kulang na ng space, si Bong na pwersahin ko ngayon pati yung mga kaibigan ko na naiwan sa Congress na bigyan kayo ng malaking bahay. Parang dormitory rin. Yung anak ko eldest ko Congressman siya pati isa kong anak si Mayor Baste, hingi ako ng pera para magpagawa tayo ng bahay,” he said.
It can be recalled that in 2015, he established the said center in Cabantian, Davao City to provide shelter care and serves as a temporary substitute home for survivors/victims of physical and sexual abuses.
“In 2015 naghanap ako ng pera at pinagawaan ko kayo ng magandang bahay. Nakikita ko ngayon maraming nag enroll dito at maraming istudyante. Maligaya ako na nag-aral kayo. Mag-aral kayong mabuti at kung malaki na kayo, meron na kayong trabaho at maghanap kayo ng hanapbuhay na matino tapos balang araw mag-asawa na kayo, para magkaroon ng matinong pamilya para sa ating bayan. Kailangan kasi natin ang pamilya,” he said.
The kids offered song for the former president and his companions. He also promised to bring the children to a mall to shop and go to a movie as treats for Christmas.
Meanwhile, Go provided them with tablets, cellphones, basketballs, volleyballs, and toys.
