By Raymund Antonio Vice President Leni Robredo, through her flagship Angat Buhay program, has built a mental health facility in San Remigio, Cebu, in support of the local government’s community-based mental health program. Vice President Leni Robredo
(Juan Carlo de Vela / MANILA BULLETIN) Robredo on Thursday opened the mental health facility, which was built through a P2-million assistance from her office through its Angat Buhay Bridging Leadership program. The Vice President led the inauguration of the center that stands on a 100-square meter lot and has holding areas and treatment rooms for patients. This will benefit 204 residents with mental health conditions, suffering from depression, anxiety, psychotic, developmental and behavioral disorders. San Remigio local government’s mental health program was named the third best project when it joined the program of the Office of the Vice President. On the same day, her office also turned over medicines from another Angat Buhay partner, ANCOP Foundation USA. Present at the event were San Remigio Mayor Mariano Martinez, Vice Mayor Alfonso Pestorante, and other local officials. The OVP’s other partner, Solana Foundation, provided the equipment and furnishings of the facility. Robredo praised the local government unit for its relentless efforts to address the mental health concerns of its residents. The Vice President was impressed by San Remigio’s mental health program, which was borne out of a discovery in the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda, when the LGU found mentally-ill residents chained and locked in cages by their families. “Kaya po dagdag nang dagdag iyong tulong na ibinibigay, hindi lang po namin, pero ng aming mga partners, kasi every time we come here, we get inspired,” Robredo, a former housing chief, said. “Masayang masaya po ako kasi noong pagpunta ko ng November, na-meet ko iyong isang batch ng mga pasyente ng mental health program, saka iyong caregivers nila. At iyong improvement—hindi lang sa health nila pero sa buhay ng pamilya nila—dahil sa programa niyo ay napakalaki na,” she added. Apart from the newly opened facility, the local government has also partnered with the Philippine Mental Health Association – Cebu  under Angat Buhay for the conduct of monthly community clinic visits.