The Mandaluyong City local government opened two new facilities -- a 5-storey evacuation center and multipurpose building and a women, children, and LGBTQIA+ protection center -- as part of its mandate to ensure the safety and wellness of its residents, the city government announced.
The launching of the facilities was attended by Mayor Ben Abalos, Vice Mayor Menchie Abalos, Mandaluyong City Rep. Neptali "Boyet" Gonzales, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Sec. Benhur Abalos, and other city officials and executives.
According to Gonzales, the evacuation center and multipurpose building can accommodate around 400 families and is located in Barangay Addition Hills. It was built close to the Andres Bonifacio Integrated School (ABIS) and Mandaluyong Manpower Development Center.
(Photo from Rep. Gonzales)
The project was first launched by the vice mayor when she was mayor of the city and was finished under Mayor Ben's administration with the help of the city council.
"Ang proyektong ito ay bahagi ng adhikain ng ating pamahalaang lokal na pahalagahan ang kapakanan ng ating mga mamamayan, sa pamamagitan ng pagbibigay ng silungan sa mga kababayan nating nahaharap sa lahat ng klase ng sakuna, gaya na lamang ng pagbabaha at hindi inaasahang sunog (This project is part of the city government's aspiration of protecting the future and welfare of our citizens by providing them with an evacuation center in times of disasters and other calamities such as floods and fires)," Gonzales said.
Meanwhile, the Mandaluyong City Protection Center for Women, Children and LGBTQIA+ Building located in Barangay Mauway was also started by Vice Mayor Menchie during her term as mayor.
(Photo from Rep. Gonzales)
The facility was built close to the city's Bahay Tuluyan for female out-of-school youths.
"Ang nasabing gusali ang magsisilbing pansamantalang silungan na mangangalaga at magpoprotekta sa karapatan ng ating mga kababaihan, kabataan at mga miyembro ng LGBTQIA+ community na naging biktima ng mga pang-aabuso o karahasan, tulad na lamang ng domestic violence (The said building will serve as a temporary shelter that will take care of women, children, and members of the LGBTQIA+ community who are victims of abuse and violence such as domestic violence)," the lawmaker explained.
In May 2022, the city government had a meeting with its stakeholders to discuss various programs and initiatives that will help improve the lives of the city's citizens, particularly the youth.
The local government unit (LGU) said the meeting's goal is to create programs that can help improve the city government's service to the public as well as to strengthen its initiatives undertaken during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The 2023-2025 Strategic Planning and Program Implementation Review also tackled the updating of Mandaluyong Children’s Welfare Code as well as mainstreaming and innovating services for the Local Council for the Protection of Children (LCPC).