DAGUPAN CITY – The city’s first women center located at Poblacion Oeste is now ready to cater to the needs of battered and sexually abused women after it opened its doors following its blessing and inauguration on January 19.
Mayor Belen T. Fernandez and Poblacion Oeste Punong Barangay led the ceremonial ribbon cutting along with City Administrator Farah G. Decano, City Legal Officer Ma. Victoria D. Cabrera, City Engineer Virginia V. Rosario, Father Alberto Arenos and the staff of the City Social Welfare and Development Office led by Leah L. Aquino.
“I am filled with joy that we have finally realized our dream of building a center for the welfare and protection of women in our city, which is one of our priority projects in our administration,” disclosed Fernandez.
The Women Center was funded by the city government “and its operation cost will be shouldered by the city government,” added Fernandez citing that the center will be manned by a social worker, a nurse and a house parent.
In collaboration with Dagupan-Lingayen Archbishop Socrates Villegas, a group of nuns will also help in the center to do values formation for women and help the city in its campaign against prostitution.
“The Church is our partner in this drive and we are fully supporting the thrust of the Church for women,” said Fernandez.
The Women Center is the first of the several projects initiated by Fernandez to open this year.
By February, the city will also inaugurate its E-Library, which is just beside the Women Center. The city is now in the process of installing computers in preparation for the formal opening.
Fernandez bares that aside from the two buildings, the city is presently constructing its first Tourism Center building in the same area.
“Very soon we will also start with our Teen Center in this place. We will also construct a long tennis court and an archery field and the construction of SPED classrooms in support of the Department of Education’s program on special children,” said Fernandez. (Joseph C. Bacani/CIO/Jan. 19, 2017)