By Brian Campued
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said that the suspended care facility in Maramag, Bukidnon last week violated safety and sanitary regulations, which pose a risk to its clients’ health and well-being.
In a press release Wednesday, DSWD ASec. Juan Carlo Marquez said the Field Office (FO) 10 (Northern Mindanao) rescued 17 senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) from the Bukidnon Multi-Sectoral Services Foundation Inc. on Oct. 11 due to unsafe and unsanitary conditions.
“Bukod sa walang kaukulang rehistro ay masalimuot at nasa delikadong kalagayan ang mga residente nito,” Marquez said.
“Ilan sa mga nakitang paglabag ay ang maruruming banyo, silid, kakulangan sa occupational safety standards, at mga kondisyon na maaaring magdulot ng banta sa kalusugan. Wala ring maayos na sistema sa case management, tulad ng tamang dokumentasyon ng mga residente, at kawalan ng kwalipikadong caregivers o professional na tagapag-alaga,” he added.
According to Marquez, the DSWD FO-10 visited and inspected the care facility last February and April but said that it lacked appropriate registration, licensing, and accreditation to function as a social welfare and development agency (SWDA).
It also lacks a case management system, proper documentation of client-residents, and qualified caregivers.
“Ayon sa batas, kinakailangang lahat ng ganitong pasilidad ay rehistrado at lisensyado ng DSWD. Layunin ng batas na tiyakin ang kalidad ng serbisyong ibinibigay ng mga institusyong nag-aalaga sa mga batang walang magulang, matatanda, at iba pang vulnerable sectors ng lipunan,” Marquez noted.
The 17 rescued individuals were being cared for in DSWD-managed facilities, while some were transferred to other local residential centers.
DSWD Sec. Rex Gatchalian instructed the agency to monitor and visit registered and licensed SWDAs not only to check compliance with standards but also to “ensure that the elderly, children, persons with disabilities that they (SWDAs) are committed to serve are indeed well cared for.”
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