SOON, persons with mental disorder roaming the streets of Davao City, some not really from here, will be sheltered and treated at the to-be constructed mental wellness center.
On Tuesday, February 4, the 19th City Council passed on third and final reading the ordinance establishing the mental wellness center in the city.
The center will be divided into two parts: one will be a facility for mentally challenged individuals who do not have relatives in the city and cannot be accommodated at the Southern Medical Philippines Center Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Medicine (SPMC-IPBM), and the other will be an outpatient counseling service center.
Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio, in a radio interview at 87.5-FM Disaster Radio on Wednesday, February 5, said the city will be rescuing them from the streets and will be the one to foster them while under medication and rehabilitation.
Duterte-Carpio admitted that most of these mentally-ill persons are from far-flung areas.
“Daghan naga-abot sa Davao because ang atuang mga silingan man gud nga mga areas, wala sila’y facilities para sa mga mentally-challenged na mga individuals (Most of them came from neighboring areas since they do not have facilities for those mentally-challenged),” the mayor said.
“Ang kalakaran sa atong mga silingan, if naa sila makit-an and naa silay makuha gikan sa mga dalan nila, ginapasakay nila ug ginabayran ang pinakalayo nga destination sa bus (What they mostly do is that those people they rescue from the streets are being sent to the farthest bus destination),” the mayor said, adding that Davao City is being referred to as the farthest destination.
Although she said it is unintentional since they are not equipped in handling these persons. Also, she said these areas do not have medical experts who can cater to their needs.
The mayor also said there are some who came all the way from Surigao.
Since they are already in the city, Duterte-Carpio said it is unjust to send them away. Hence, she said the wellness facility will cater to them.
Duterte-Carpio previously said she had secured P23 million fund for the construction of the facility, courtesy of Dumper Party-list Representative Claudine Bautista.
She said the center will be a “tri-partnership” of the city government, Southern Medical Philippines Center Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Medicine (SPMC-IPBM), and the Department of Health.
Meanwhile, a separate outpatient counseling service will provide free counseling to patients with mental anxiety and depression.
Duterte-Carpio said it will be a separate area since having inside the “mental hospital compound” would only add to their stigma.
Earlier reports said the construction of the center will be finished within this year.
However, she is uncertain the project will be through within the year because the project will be handled by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) central office.
Meanwhile, Councilor Mary Joselle Villafuerte, who is heading the project, said they will work on with deed of usufruct of the center.