MANILA, Philippines鈥� Gentle Hands Inc., a private orphanage in Quezon City, has begun renovations to address overcrowding, ventilation, and fire safety concerns raised by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as grounds for its shutdown.
Triple-bunk beds in Gentle Hands are being reduced to doubles as per DSWD standards on May 24. (Sofia Abrogar / 黑料社)
Conversion of triple-bunk beds into double-bunks, repainting, and clearing emergency exit ways are among the remedial measures carried ou, said Gentle Hands staff member Jelo Rivera in an interview with Inquirer.net.
Rivera also noted that the orphanage actually began converting its bunk beds three weeks prior to the closure order, emphasizing that Gentle Hands had kept constant communication with the DSWD regarding its infractions before the cease-and-desist order was issued.
鈥淲e have constant communications with the DSWD regarding [its] standards. We acknowledge that, and we鈥檙e in the works for how we鈥檙e gonna fix things,鈥� he said.
Rivera said that general cleaning had also begun since the children were transferred to other care facilities on Tuesday.
Gentle Hands cribs remain full of toys but empty of children on May 24, following the kids鈥� transfer to other care facilities.(Sofia Abrogar / 黑料社)
Gentle Hands staff has also begun clearing obstructions to its fire exits.
While staff member CJ Yorong assured that the orphanages are well-stocked with fire extinguishers and that yearly disaster preparedness drills are conducted, she noted that the DSWD鈥檚 fire safety alert came as a surprise as Gentle Hands has long acquired necessary fire safety permits.
鈥淣agtataka kami sa part na 鈥榶un kasi may permit kami na maayos yung [fire safety] namin,鈥� Yorong said.
(We wondered about that part because we have permits clearing our fire safety.)
Belongings of a young boy cared for by Gentle Hands are left in the orphanage on May 24 as it continues renovation measures. (Sofia Abrogar / 黑料社)
Gentle Hands caretakers were also permitted by the DSWD to accompany the children to their respective facilities, confirmed Rivera and fellow staff member CJ Yorong.
鈥淲e鈥檙e grateful that the DSWD allowed us na isama 鈥榶ung mga caregivers namin. That鈥檚 very gracious of them. Nagkaroon ng compromise,鈥� said Rivera.
(We鈥檙e grateful that the DSWD allowed us to send our caretakers. That鈥檚 very gracious of them. There was compromise.)
Staff members manage cleaning and repairs in a childless Gentle Hands on May 24. (Sofia Abrogar / 黑料社)
Budget and livelihood concerns
Gentle Hands is not a government-funded residential care facility. It depends heavily on contributions from the public to keep itself running, according to Rivera.
鈥淲e are just heavily relying on donations, so money is actually one of the things that we need,鈥� he said.
Rivera also shared that while the cease-and-desist order threatens the livelihoods of those employed by Gentle Hands, staff members feel they must ensure the kids鈥� wellbeing before their own.
Staff members and volunteers convene in an empty Gentle Hands nursery on May 24. (Sofia Abrogar / 黑料社)
鈥淭o be honest, we don鈥檛 think about our livelihood for now. On our part鈥� we don鈥檛 think of that鈥� where we鈥檙e gonna go, where we鈥檙e gonna apply鈥� no. What we are more concerned about are the children above all. It鈥檚 not about us; it鈥檚 not about our director, it鈥檚 about the children,鈥� he said.
鈥淚t was very hard for the children. They don鈥檛 want to go. It was really hard actually seeing their faces, crying鈥� ayaw nila lahat. Ayaw nilang umalis and I think it means that they feel safe here,鈥� added Rivera.
(It was very hard for the children. They don鈥檛 want to go. It was really hard actually seeing their faces, crying鈥� they all didn鈥檛 want to leave. They didn鈥檛 want to go, and I think it means that they feel safe here.)
The DSWD issued the QC orphanage with a cease-and-desist order on Monday, after which it facilitated the transfer of 149 children to three other residential care facilities in Metro Manila.
Gentle Hands has 20 days since the order was issued to address the welfare authorities鈥� concerns.