Tingog Party List Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez and Bulacan Fourth District Representative Linabelle Ruth Villarica, AWLFI Chairperson and President, respectively, together with Vice Mayor Abalos, former Congresswoman Gonzales, NCMH Director Reyes and women legislators during the groundbreaking ceremony for the Women and Children Protection Unit at the National Center for Mental Health in Mandaluyong.
Reps. Romualdez, Villarica lead new NCMH building groundbeaking rite
TINGOG Party List Representative Yedda Marie Romualdez and Bulacan Fourth District Representative Linabelle Ruth Villarica, Chairperson and President of the Association of Women Legislators Foundation, Inc. (AWLFI), respectively, led the groundbreaking ceremony for the Women and Children Protection Unit at the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) in Mandaluyong City.
Rep. Romualdez is the wife of House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez.
Apart from members of the 86-strong women legislators’ organization, Romualdez and Villarica were joined by Mandaluyong Vice Mayor Menchie Abalos and former Representative Queenie Gonzales, wife of Mandaluyong Representative Neptali Gonzales II, during the ceremony held last Monday.
According to Romualdez, the new two-storey building will have four consultation rooms for out-patients, a doctor’s office and a mini-playing area for children.
Envisioned as a safe and nurturing facility for women, children and adolescents facing mental health challenges, Romualdez said this project “marks a significant milestone not only for the AWLFI, but for every individual who believes in the power of comprehensive mental health care and the protection of the most vulnerable in our society.”
In her message, Villarica expressed her gratitude to the entire members of the organization for helping raise the amount needed to mount the construction of the building which they consider their landmark project for this 19th Congress.
Apart from the “Kasuotan : Filipiniana Redefined” coffee table book project which they started back in the 17th Congress when Villarica was elected to her first term as President of the organization, the AWLFI in the current Congress has embarked on other fundraisers such as garage sale events featuring pre-loved items of House Members and art exhibits to support their endeavor.
“Marami pa tayong pagsasaluhang landmark occasions tulad nito, where we can see how far we’ve come. Pero madami pa ring pagsusumikapang trabaho because ‘Dreamers plan, not wish for things to happen’,” Villarica reminded her colleagues.
Also present in the groundbreaking ceremony were officials of the NCMH led by Director Noel Reyes. The event was part of the women legislators’ activities for the month-long celebration of the National Women’s Month.
