THE administration of City Mayor Rolando ‘Klarex’ Uy has strongly refuted allegations of Facebook user Lihok Katawhan regarding funding shortages that hindered operations at the House of Hope, a custodial psychiatric care facility in Upper Palalan, Barangay Lumbia.
In its trasparency page, Lihok Katawhan claims that it is “a multisectoral grassroots initiative dedicated to promoting good governance in the city. The page was created on January 23, 2021. The page has been posting support for former Mayor Oscar Moreno and his slate for the May 12 elections. As of this posting, the page has 20 thousand likes 22 thousand followers.
In a recent press conference, Dr. Michael June Perez, the acting chief of hospital at JR Borja General Hospital (JRBGH), addressed these claims, stating that the House of Hope is “fully functional and operational.”
He highlighted the commitment of the facility’s dedicated team, which includes 36 personnel caring for 53 patients, ensuring that their needs are effectively met.
To further bolster support for the House of Hope, a Memorandum of Agreement was signed between Mayor Uy and Monsignor Jose Alan P. Pulgo, chairperson of the Board of Trustees of the House of Hope Foundation, Incorporated (HOHFI).
The signing ceremony, attended by Cagayan de Oro Archbishop Most Reverend Jose A. Cabantan and other dignitaries, solidifies a commitment from the city government to provide annual financial assistance of P3 million.
This funding is specifically earmarked for the care of patients and their reintegration into the community through an after-care program.
Dr. Perez clarified that the financial assistance referenced by Msgr. Eutiquiano ‘Tex’ Legitimas, co-founder of HOHFI, pertains to support for the “apostolic and missionary duties” of the House of Hope rather than operational costs.
He explained that the city had already allocated P3 million for 2021, with another P3 million approved for 2022, although disbursement faced delays due to the liquidation process of the facility.
Despite these challenges, City Mayor’s Office Chief of Staff Sheila Lumbatan said coordination between the city government, JRBGH, and the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro is ongoing to ensure that the needs of patients are consistently met.
Mayor Uy’s administration according to Lumbatan, remains committed to enhancing mental health care services in the community.
She said Mayor Uy always remains ensuring that patients are supported during their transition back into society.
“Our administration stands firm in our dedication to mental health care,” Uy earlier emphasized, adding they will continue to work tirelessly to provide the necessary resources and support for the House of Hope and its patients.
Lumbatan pointed out that Uy’s focus remains on improving facilities and services, ensuring that mental health care is prioritized and accessible to all residents of Cagayan de Oro.
