Cebu's 'Smart Houses' Offer Survivors Shelter and Mental Health Support

The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office has begun building ‘smart houses’ at the Women and Children in Crisis Intervention Center. These new units will form part of the Balay ni Neneng compound, designed to support survivors with better living conditions and mental health care. Governor Pamela Baricuatro and health officials have also approved new medical and psychological frameworks to assist victims more effectively. Each smart house will include air conditioning, a fully equipped kitchen, and space for 8 to 10 survivors. Additional administrative offices will be set up to manage operations and provide support. The government is also setting up help desks and referral systems at major transport terminals in Cebu, ensuring faster access to services for those in need.

The approved frameworks cover psychological first aid, trauma processing, and quicker access to mental health treatment. For children, specialised care such as play therapy and art therapy will be available to help with emotional recovery. Dr. Shiela Faciol, chief of the Provincia Health Office, confirmed that the Capitol has secured supplies of medication for mental illness, anxiety, and depression through collaboration with psychologists. Governor Baricuatro and Dr. Faciol worked together to finalise these medical and mental health guidelines. The new systems aim to streamline support for survivors, ensuring they receive both immediate and long-term care.

The smart houses and updated frameworks will provide survivors with improved living conditions and structured mental health support. Help desks at transport hubs will further speed up access to services. These measures reflect a coordinated effort to address the needs of vulnerable individuals in the province.