Pact with House of Hope’s financial aid up for review

THE proposed Memorandum of Agreement between the city government and the House of Hope has been endorsed by Vice Mayor Raineir Joaquin Uy to the City Council committee on social services chaired by Councilor Reuben R. Daba for review.

The agreement covers the financial assistance to be provided by the city to the House of Hope for this year in the amount of P3 million, and the collaboration of the parties to provide needed services to help address the mental health needs in the city.

In his letter to the City Council, Mayor Oscar Moreno said the increased amount of assistance to provide the services to the mentally-challenged patients admitted at the House of Hope is a manifestation of the city’s strong commitment in addressing the mental health problem in the local government unit.

It may be recalled that the city government allocated the amount of P1 million as financial assistance to the House of Hope last year.

It has been observed that mentally-challenged or abandoned persons are found loitering and aimlessly wandering in the streets, thoroughfares, and public and private buildings and places in the city.

House of Hope is attending to their needs but its aim of completely caring, rehabilitation and uplifting them as worthy human beings is hampered by lack of facilities as well as the absence of sustained and effective support from the community.

Under the proposed memorandum, the city government shall harness, provide and extend all possible assistance to the House of Hope, for the accomplishment of its plans, programs, and activities, among others.

For its part, the House of Hope shall accept referrals from the city provided that it is compliant with the protocol of the House of Hope that only mentally-challenged patients, and not persons with disability are eligible for admission into the facility, as provided for in the proposed memorandum. (sp)