SAN JOSE, Antique – Abused, neglected and abandoned women and children in Antique has found refuge at the province' crisis center called "Pagsapupo Center."

"Pagsapupo" is a local term which connotes care and love for someone, thus Pagsapupo Center was a term coined to mean taking care of abandoned and abused women and children, said Lazaro Petinglay, provincial social welfare and development officer.

After a year of operation since it was launched in March 2011, Petinglay said the center has catered to more than 175 cases of women and children, mostly abandoned, neglected, victims of abused, incest, and those who left their homes due to violence.

It takes commitment to care for the victims, said Judy Malunda, resident social worker of Pagsapupo.

Seeing them cope with the situation and eventually find the right direction is likewise a fulfilling experience, she added.

Aside from a resident social worker, the center is also managed by four house parents and security guards, who took turns managing the center 24/7.

To avail of its services, necessary coordination should be done with the local social workers in municipalities for appropriate case analysis and referral.

Pagsapupo Center is located in Binirayan, San Jose, Antique.

It is a centerpiece project of the Provincial Government in partnership with the Provincial Gender and Development Inter-Agency Committee with annual budget allocation of not less than P.5 million.

Construction of the building was a collective undertaking of the province and Senator Loren Legarda while the lot was a donation from Antique National School.*PIA