Private sector to help build Mandaue children’s center

SITE development of Children’s Center of Mandaue City dubbed Home of Positive Encouragement was already done.

The 1.2-hectare lot now has access roads and depressed portions now filled.

The Home of Positive Encouragement (HOPE), a P100-million facility in sitio Dungguan in barangay Basak is set to be finished in 2016.

The first phase which is set to start soon covers the construction of the administrative building, said Jamaal James Calipayan, executive secretary of Mayor Jonas Cortes.

The children’s center will cater to children in conflict with the law.

It  will also be used as a house of recreation for children beneficiaries and for livelihood development and will also feature a materials recovery facility (MRF).

“We are developing this facility in line with our advocacy in making these homeless children, those in conflict with the law become better people and avoid self-destruction,” Sarah WalkerCortes, wife of Mayor Jonas Cortes  said.

A non-government organization, Taga Mandaue Incorporated (TMI) headed by Clarito Fruelda, will be helping the local government in financing the construction of the center.

Fruelda said they will organize a dinner for a cause on January 12 at the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) to raise funds for the project.

To attract donors, they will be raffling prizes. The grand prize will be a sports utility vehicle.

About 40 percent of the total proceeds will go to the center said Fruelda.

He added that they will still be organizing other fund raising activities to help the city government’s construction of the center.

He said tickets for the dinner cost P2,000. Those buying 10 tickets will be given one free ticket.

Donors can also donate through TMI’s website wwwtmi.2009.com.

“We are doing this fund raising to start the project even with the little amount we can raise,” said Editha Cortes, a board member of TMI. /Jucell Marie P. Cuyos, Correspondent