ANTIQUE – A P1.6-million shelter for abused children is being constructed in Sibalom town by the United States (US) Armed Forces and the Philippine Army as part of the Balikatan 2023 humanitarian and civic project.
The multipurpose building will be called “Cradle of Hope”.
Department of Education (DepEd) Schools Division of Antique legal officer Elizabeth Felasol said the project is envisioned as a halfway house where abused children could seek temporary shelter.
“DepEd, about a year ago, submitted a proposal through the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC) for the construction of a building that would cater to abused children, and this was submitted to the Philippine Army,” said Felasol.
The halfway house is also in line with DepEd’s Child Rights in Education Desk (CREDe) program, which launched on May 2, 2022, per DepEd Order No. 3, Series of 2021.
The one-story building inside the Inabasan Elementary School in Barangay Inabasa, Sibalom, is being constructed by the 301st Infantry Battalion, 552nd Engineer Construction Battalion, and US forces.
The project, which had its groundbreaking on March 27, is targeted to be finished and turned over to DepEd on April 28.
The 3rd Infantry Division’s Public Affairs Office officer-in-charge, Lieutenant Colonel Vicel Jan Garsuta, said Antique, aside from Jamindan town in Capiz province, is where the Balikatan is being held in Panay Island.
Aside from the halfway house, there is interoperability training at the Antique Airport in San Jose de Buenavista town, added Garsuta. The training aims to equip the country’s military forces on how to operate unspecified equipment at the airport, not just during military operations but also during disasters.
Antique was chosen as a venue because it is frequented by typhoons and other natural disasters. (PNA)/PN
