The Lingap Center Center for Mentally Challenge in Tugbok celebrated its 25th Founding Anniversary on September 8, at Durian St. Tugbok District Davao City.
Prenie L. Taguibao, RSW, in charge of the Lingap Center, said in an interview during the anniversary that the center, a 24/7 residential facility under the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), has provided residential, medical, and social services for the abandoned, neglected and homeless male children with disabilities for many years.
“Naa ta’y sections diri nga nagatutok sa mga bata, atong gina-rotation ang schedule sa mga bata, dili nato sila pwede biyaan (We have sections here that focus on children, we rotate our schedule because we cannot leave the children behind),” she said.
For 25 years, Taguibao said that the facility underwent huge improvement, especially in its building. For social services, she said that the children are exposed to capability building, and are taught rug making.
Taguibao said that three siblings housed at the facility have been mainstreamed or introduced to formal education at Special Education (SPED) Tugbok. They are already in Grade 2 level. They were able to locate the mother of the siblings but unfortunately, the latter also suffers from the same disability and is incapable of raising them.
“Sa karon 26 ni tanan ang atoang mga bata. Pinakatigulang nato is nag-edad og 59, soon mag senior citizen na siya [but his mental age] kay 9 years old pud (Currently, we have 26 wards. The oldest is 59 years old, soon he will become a senior citizen but his mental age is that of a 9 years old),” she said, adding that the youngest is 9 years old.
“Lifetime ni sila diri as long as wala’y mupatim-aw nga mu-claim nga paryente nila or ilang anak kay ang social services pud nato wala nagkulang og trace and locate sa family kay mamasin gihapon mi nga mabalik sila sa ilahang family kay last recourse naman nato ning facility (They are here for their lifetime for as long as there is no family member or children who will claim them and also our social services exercised due diligence in tracing their families because we are still not giving up and hope that they can still be returned to their families as this facility is already the last recourse),” Taguibao said.
Taguibao said that currently, while there are enough provisions for food and other needs, they are seeking to improve the building and rooms and make them more safe and comfortable for the clients.
They also seek to strengthen the medical, social, and intellectual services provided to the children. CIO
