Family relations cmte pushes for Special Needs Intervention Center

The committee on women and family relations continues to advance efforts to establish the proposed Cagayan de Oro City Special Needs Intervention Center for Children.

The proposed measure, authored by committee chair Councilor Des Dahino, seeks to establish a dedicated facility that will provide early intervention, assessment, therapy, and support services for children with special needs and their families.

“It is quite ambitious, but every meaningful change in history started with ambition,” Dahino said, underscoring that although the proposal entails significant resources and long-term planning, it remains both necessary and achievable.

She further highlighted that she, together with representatives from the City Social Welfare and Development Department (CSWD), had conducted a benchmarking visit to the Davao City Special Needs Intervention Center for Children, in addition to a series of meetings, site inspection, and consultations already undertaken to advance the proposal.

During the committee meeting, members agreed to consolidate the comments, recommendations, and inputs from concerned departments and offices to strengthen the proposed ordinance further.

 The committee also initiated the creation of a Technical Working Group (TWG) to help guide the development and implementation planning of the proposed center.

Invited resource persons from various government agencies, along with Councilors Imee Moreno and Paolo Gaane, likewise expressed support for the initiative, recognizing the need to expand access to services for children with special needs in the city. (SPE/SP)