P20-M rehab center to rise in Angeles City

headed by Lazatin’s Chief Adviser IC Calaguas, along with City Engineer Donato Dizon and City Social Welfare and Development Officer Edna Duaso.

“This project, was first conceptualized in 2019 but due to the pandemic it was held in abeyance,”

Calaguas said.

Under the concept — the city will build a onestop-shop youth custody center where the Bahay Pag Asa and Sagip Batang Solvent will be both located. The city will also establish a drop in center for rescued street children.

Four buildings will be constructed at the “Kanlungan ng Kabataan” which includes a training center, a classroom for the alternative learning system, recreation area, mess halls and dorms.

“We will tap the help of the Department of Education for the alternative learning system (ALS), Tesda for the training, and of course we will have an inhouse licensed therapist for the mental well-being of children,” Calaguas said.

Lazatin and the Angeles City council asked the agency to entrust its management to the city government.

BCDA has agreed in principle.

Lazatin tapped his chief adviser and Clark International Airport Corp. Vice President IC Calaguas, to oversee the reforestation and management of the watershed.

The city government started its massive reforestation efforts last year to increase water reserves which will benefit the city and the Metro Clark area.

Moreover, Lazatin plans to establish a nursery to ensure enough supplies of seedlings in reforesting the 560-hectare land.

Staff from the City Environment and Natural Resources Office and the city’s partner ARAW-ACI have been assigned at the Angeles City Watershed to look after and monitor the seedlings planted during the series of tree planting activities conducted.

In addition, Lazatin is encouraging the private sector and non-government organizations to "adopt" certain areas in the wat er sh ed .

"Having water is a must. These efforts being done at the present time will help conserve water for the use of future generations. Isa lang naman po ang goal natin, ang maseguro ang kapakanan ng ating mga kababayan, habang pinangangalagaan ang kalikasan," Lazatin furthered. Last June 19, 2021 the city government spearheaded a planting activity where 1,000 seedlings of narra, molave, dau, poay, and assorted fruitbearing trees were planted. The same was conducted during the Women's Month celebration, where 600 trees were planted on March 19, 2021. (Angeles City Information Of f i ce)