PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
1. Rationale of the Project:
Lucena City is one of the cities with the fastest rate of urbanization in the country today. With the rapid growth and development of its economy being one of the positive changes occurring, there are also social implications to deal with. Continuous in-migration brings a lot of family issues like housing, jobs, education, etc. Children’s taking to the streets is one that also grows. It’s not a good sight to see children begging, scavenging for scrap, peddling news papers, cigarettes and sampaguita garlands, and sniffing solvent materials like rugby. All of these problems are directly linked with socio-economic factors such as poverty and increased population.
The presence of street children became alarming. Based on the 2002 data, there were about 2,712 children engaged in different child labor activities which were not only hazardous to their health but made them also prone to other forms of exploitation and abuse. Although the incidence of street children dropped dramatically in 1995 due to the establishment of the social welfare facilities, this rose again after the three (3) malls were established in the city in 2002. More families from other provinces are migrating to the city thus complicating the social and economic situations in the city.
The City Social Welfare Complex is one of the milestone projects of the city for the welfare sector. Programs and services for street children, abused girls, underprivileged women, disabled, elderly and unskilled family heads (fathers) were crafted by the City Social Welfare and Development Office beginning 1992. First facility established on the open space of about 5,000 sq. m. or 0.05 ha. property of the city government was called the Reception and Action Center for Street Boys. Boys found in the streets after 8:00 p.m. are rounded up and admitted to the center if they need temporary shelter. RAC provides a temporary home where basic needs are available and such other services as, home life simulation, case management, formal education, skills and livelihood training, recreational and spiritual activities, among others. In a week, an average of 50 boys is brought up for processing at the center.
In 1998 the Girl Crisis Center was put up due to the increasing cases of sexual and other physical abuses on girls below 17 yrs. of age. Like the boys, they receive the same services with the addition of referral for legal assistance and psychological evaluation. The combined statistics of girls being abused in the city is averaging 2 a day or 14 a week. This facility has continuously existed as a haven for girls and women in need of temporary shelter.
Over the years, other center-based facilities were established like the Senior Citizens’ Center; the Sheltered Workshop of Persons with Disability; the Women Welfare Resource Center; the Day Care Resource Center; the Health Center for residents and the community at large; the Industrial Sewing Center for Women; and the Livelihood Center for all welfare sectors. All these facilities are generating about 1,000 clients a week. There is a small water tank constructed for use of the boys and girls’ centers but is no longer capable of distributing water to all centers in the compound.
The City Government was able to generate funds from the Embassy of Japan for the on going reconstruction of the Reception and Action Center for Boys and the Girl Crisis buildings. Both facilities are two-levels, and would need more water than ever. However, because of the increasing cost of materials, the approved budget would not allow for the construction of a big water tank to distribute water to the two residential care units, as well as, the other center-based facilities thereat.
2. Overall Goals and Indicators of Success
By the year 2010, there would be:
A. 80% reduction in the incidence of child neglect, juvenile delinquency, drug abuse and dysfunctional families.
B. 80% decrease of cases of sexual abuse and domestic violence on children and women.
C. 100% of the children are provided with quality parental care and support.
D. Individuals, families, and communities are aware and uphold their responsibility to safeguard, promote and protect the rights of children thereby ensuring a child-friendly community.
E. 0 case of street children and abused girls and the transformation of the residential care facilities into youth hostels for students from far flung villages.
F. The well being of the older persons and persons with disability are upheld through the various programs undertaken at the center and the larger community
3. Construction of Water Tank as a long-term Remedy
see 'water link' on this site by clicking on picture below
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