P60M activity center for street kids breaks ground
Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma leads the groundbreaking of the construction of a center for children in Barangay Mabolo. Aldo Nelbert Banaynal
CEBU, Philippines — The Archdiocese of Cebu will earmark up to P60 million in funds for the construction of the center for street children.
The center will cater to the needs of street children and those in the “peripheries” or in geographical areas of great economic poverty, Archbishop Jose Palma said during yesterday’s groundbreaking ceremony at the Saint Joseph Parish Church in Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City.
The four-storey activity center for street children called “Abtanan sa Kaluoy” will soon rise within the premises of the church.
The construction of the building is expected to start this year.
“This is an activity center, so dili diri i-house ang mga bata. They come and go and we deal with them as the need arises,” the prelate clarified.
Palma said an Italian association has pledged to donate P60 million for the center during the 51st International Eucharistic Congress (IEC) in Cebu last year.
“Dugay na nato ni gipangandoy nga matukod na. Sa kamatuoran nagpasalig na ang Italiana sa ilahang support and we hope nga that amount is coming soon. Mao na ilahang gisaad. Ang atoa we trusted their word,” he said.
Palma said the center will provide services, such as educational and feeding programs, catechism, values formation exercises, and other intervention programs, to street children.
He said they want to focus on moral development and character formation, as well as foster the development of ethical and responsible individuals by teaching them about the good values that people should have.
“Kini nga mga bataa kun imoha lamang pabayaan mamahimong problema lamang but sa atoang intervention hopefully mahimo sila nga assets sa society nato,” Palma said.
Moreover, Palma has encouraged all sectors, including the priests, government officials and the public to participate in their various activities.
“Giawhag ang tanan nga magtinabangay labi na kadtong adunay dakong gugma sa mga kabatan-onan aron sa lain-lain programa sama sa feeding, education, ilahang formation ug tanan nga makadala nila alang sa maayong kaugmaon,” he said. (FREEMAN)
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