By Raymund Antonio
An advocate for the poor, Vice President Leni Robredo is exploring more ways to help street dwellers, victims of domestic abuse, and recovering drug dependents in a rehabilitation center in Manila.
(photo courtesy of OVP)
Robredo recently visited the St. Arnold Jansse Kalinga Center, an institution founded by Fr. Flavie Villanueva in 2015, that provides services for the poor and marginalized sector.
The Vice President’s visit was not open for media coverage, but her office released photos to the media.
In the photos, Robredo spoke with the beneficiaries and listened to the stories of beneficiary-volunteers who have recovered from their drug addiction.
The Kalinga center caters to the needs of its beneficiaries in three phases: bathing-clothing-feeding, education and skills development, and employment and livelihood.
It has also accepted families of extrajudicial killing victims to help in their healing process by providing holistic care and therapy to become productive and empowered.
Villanueva, who founded the center, is a former drug user. The Healing Intervention Leading to Optimum Management in the Rehabilitation of Significant Others of EJK Victims or PagHILOM program is his brainchild.
The Office of the Vice President said Robredo went to the center, along with donors from the private sector, to further assess how they can be of help to these people in need.
OVP has expressed commitment to find more ways to provide support to the center and its beneficiaries, particularly in terms of livelihood.
A staunch critic of the government’s bloody anti-drug campaign, Robredo has also vowed to support initiatives for the families of victims of extrajudicial killings.