Mayor Sara Duterte has revealed that P40 million was earmarked for the construction of a center that caters to special needs children.
“We already have a source for the 40 million. It will be coming from the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF),” she said.
She also said that the fund will released once the building plan and site will be completed.
“For now, we are still looking for a place where we can build the facility,” she said.
The city government will model the center from the one officials saw in Valenzuela City in Metro Manila. “There are a lot of children with special needs who cannot afford a therapy that a private institution can give,” she also said.
Councilor Antoinette Principe, who pushed for the said facility, also said that childhood intervention is important for children with special needs, especially in ages zero to eight years old.
“Through early intervention, their social skills will improve and they can go to school, as well,” she said.
Moreover, Principe also said that the proposed center will have various therapy and sessions and intervention classes. Counselors and therapists can pay attention to the kids and give individual assessments to determine the type of intervention they need. The center is designed for kids whose parents could not afford the expensive therapy.
She said children will also take lessons on modules prepared by the SPED Learning Center and the Department of Education.
