Halfway home to address influx of rebel returnees

By Jordan G. Habbiling

BAGUIO CITY -- The ongoing construction of the halfway home at Balenben, Irisan will address influx of rebel returnees in the region, according to the City Social Welfare and Development Office.
    Liza Bulayungan, acting city social welfare and development officer, told the Baguio City Council during the regular session last July 27, construction of the said facility is in preparation for the possible increase of rebel returnees in the coming years.
    The halfway home is a dormitory-type structure which will serve as a temporary shelter for former rebels in the city and other nearby localities as they prepare to be reintegrated into the community and have a “new life” after their voluntary surrender to the government.
    The project proposal indicates that the building will cater to 60 rebel returnees (30 males and 30 females).
However, Bulayungan said there was only one reported rebel returnee in the city since 2016 and the person had been reintegrated into society. 
    She said the building can be utilized for other productive undertakings of the city government to cater to other clients if the number of rebel returnees remains low. 
    In 2018, a grant worth 5 million was cascaded by the Dept. of the Interior and Local Government to the City Government of Baguio for construction of the halfway home to house the ex-rebels who are beneficiaries of the DILG’s Balik-Loob Program. 
    An amount of P15 million has been appropriated by the city government from its annual budget to complement the DILG grant. 
    The acting CSWDO chief said construction of the halfway home for the rebel returnees was started before there was a proposal to construct a retirement home for the elderly.
    “It was only in 2021 when the retirement home for the elderly was included as one of our projects,” she stated.
    Earlier, Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda questioned the measurement of the halfway home for the rebel returnees compared to that of the retirement home for the elderly.
    The proposed master development plan indicates that 297 square meters is dedicated for the halfway home for rebel returnees while only 130 sq. m. is for the retirement home for the elderly.
    “You mean to tell me that you are giving priority to rebel returnees who are very minimal in number compared to numerous senior citizens who are in need of a retirement home?” Tabanda asked. 
    The councilor appealed to the CSWDO to give priority to the retirement home.
    Bulayungan said her office will work with the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) for the possible revision of the master development plan to address the concern raised by Tabanda.
Concurring with the councilor, Bulayungan said one possible solution is to interchange the two facilities. 
    Meanwhile, Councilors Levy Lloyd Orcales and Arthur Allad-iw suggested that the halfway home building, being a multi-use facility, may also be utilized as a temporary shelter for vagrants in the city while they are recovering and preparing to be reunited with their families.
    Councilors Mylen Yaranon and Lilia Farinas, on the other hand, expressed that there is also a need to establish a halfway home for women and children who are victims of domestic violence. 
    The city council approved the master development plan of the Social Welfare and Development Complex on the condition that it would be subject to amendment. 
    Aside from the retirement home for the elderly and the halfway home for the former rebels, the development plan also includes the Bahay Pag-asa (formerly the Social Development Center) and the youth auditorium.
    Architect Donna Tabangin, City Planning and Development Coordinator, said only 43% of the total area will be used for construction while 57% will remain as open spaces which will be used for parking, permaculture or edible landscaping, green houses, and nurseries.