08/05/2026
๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐จ๐ง๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ฎ๐๐ฌ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐ข๐ ๐ง๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐๐ญ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐ง๐๐จ๐ง๐๐ ๐ข๐ง๐๐ข๐ฏ๐ข๐๐ฎ๐๐ฅ๐ฌ
The City Social Welfare Development Office (CSWDO), through the Paginhawaan Drop-In Center, continues to provide temporary shelter for homeless people, abandoned children, and children at risk.
Carmela Grado, PDICC Head, said during the I-Speak Media forum, that the center has been providing services to abandoned and homeless individuals for more than 30 years now.
"For programs and services naa ta'y temporary shelter. Naa ta'y spiritual, art and craft, play therapy, and kadtong reunification nato sa per provinces and cities naa gihapon didto ang coordination and partnership (For programs and services we have temporary shelter. We have spiritual, art and craft, play therapy, and our reunification in provinces and cities continue with our partners)," Grado said.
In 2025, the PDICC sheltered a total of 66 individuals. For the first quarter of 2026, it has catered to 27 individuals.
Grado said that these clients include both city residents and non-residents. Non-residents are assisted in returning to their homes through partnerships with officials from their home cities and municipalities.
Their clients stay from six months to one year.
Grado said that among their clients are children separated from their parents, children whose parents are detained, and abandoned children whose parents can no longer be located, mentally challenged individuals with no one to care for them, and runaways from nearby provinces and cities without parents or guardians to take care of them.
"Pag maabot na og one year sa amoa grabe na gyud pang pinangita kung asa siya pwde. Ang atong priority na mauli bisan sa relatives. Sometimes, ang relatives ang gabalibad (Once a client reaches one year with us, that means we have already searched far and wide. Our priority is really to return them to their relatives. Sometimes, even the relatives refuse them)," she said.
She said that because of strong partnerships with agencies, offices, and nearby LGUs, the 66 clients last year were successfully reunited with their families, while some were referred to the Regional Alternative Child Care Office (RACCO). They also had a client who was successfully placed for adoption and is now living in Canada.
"Kaning sa first quarter, naa napud tay upat na for foster family naa pud ta'y for reunification outside Davao City (For the first quarter, we already have four for foster family placement and we also have those for reunification outside Davao City)," she said.
Grado said that the PDICC also continues to advocate against mendicancy and ensure children's safety. While fewer children in street situations were observed during the first quarter, their campaign continues.
"Ginapakusgan nato ang adbokasiya sa anti-mendicancy law, basin nagtuo mo nga kadto lang tagaan ang kasuhan, kadto pud nanghatag mas dako gyud tog responsibilidad (We aim to strengthen our advocacy on the anti-mendicancy law, because many believe that only those who receive money are liable, but those who give alms actually have a bigger responsibility)," she said.
Grado said that those who wish to conduct activities for children, adults, and special children in CSWDO facilities may reach out through the official CSWDO page (https://www.facebook.com/cswdodavaocity). CIO
