By Charissa Luci-Atienza
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has completed the construction of its 178 infrastructure building projects, which include regional rehabilitation centers for children in conflict with the law (CICL).
This was disclosed by DSWD Secretary Rolando Bautista during the agency's 69th founding anniversary celebration in its Central Office in Quezon City.
"As of January 2020, a total of 178 infrastructure buildings already completed construction," he said in his speech during the recent Gawad Ulat awarding ceremony.
In a statement, the DSWD disclosed it has completed 80 percent of all infrastructure building projects and 86 percent of all minor repair projects.
On January 29, Wednesday, the DSWD held a virtual inauguration of its completed projects under the Centers and Residential Care Facilities (CRCF) Infrastructure Project.
"The CRCF Project includes 210 projects in 75 centers and facilities nationwide," Bautista noted.
According to the DSWD, the P2.3-billion project also includes 256 minor repairs and the procurement of 863 items for machineries and equipment, including ambulance units, and of 485 items for furniture and fixtures.
As of January 21, DSWD has completed the procurement of all items for machineries and equipment as well as for furniture and fixtures, it said.
"The virtual inauguration seeks to showcase the department's efforts to improve its facilities in order to provide medicare and welfare services to vulnerable individuals, groups, and families," Bautista said.
The DSWD said the CRCF Project includes the construction and improvement of 16 Regional Rehabilitation Center for Youth (RRCY) nationwide.
It said RRCY provides prevention, diversion, and rehabilitation services to help CICL become socially-functioning individuals.
Also part of the project is the renovation and construction of new facilities at the Processing Center for Displaced Persons (PCDP) in Zamboanga City, which provides services to deportees or undocumented Filipinos who have been sent home.
"The CRCF Infrastructure Project is part of DSWD’s continued effort to give better care and welfare services to the members of the vulnerable sectors," the DSWD said.
Under the 2018 General Appropriations Act (GAA), the project got an allocation of P2.3 billion to cover the construction, rehabilitation, and improvement of the DSWD’s centers and residential care facilities in different parts of the country.
"The CRCF Infrastructure Project aims to provide exemplary structures and services for the protection and rehabilitation of marginalized and disadvantaged individuals, families, and groups," the DSWD said.
"It is one of the priority social infrastructure projects of the government and is the commitment of DSWD to the Infrastructure Cluster Performance and Projects Roadmap pursuant to Executive Order 24, series of 2017," it added.