By Jidday B. Lucman

In a milestone for inclusive development in the Bangsamoro region, the Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD) officially inaugurated the newly rehabilitated Center for Persons with Disabilities on April 24, 2025, at San Isidro Avenue, Rosary Heights X, Cotabato City.

The upgraded facility reflects the Bangsamoro Government’s commitment to promoting disability sensitivity, empowerment, and self-reliance among persons with disabilities.

In her virtual keynote address, MSSD Minister Atty. Raissa H. Jajurie reaffirmed the Ministry’s dedication to inclusive service delivery and sustained support for marginalized sectors. She emphasized that the center’s transformation represents more than just infrastructure development—it signals a renewed drive to uplift the lives of persons with disabilities throughout BARMM.

“𝘞𝘦 𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘢 𝘮𝘰𝘥𝘦𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘦 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘰 𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩—𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘰𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘷𝘶𝘭𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘴,” Minister Jajurie said, highlighting MSSD’s broader vision to expand center-based services across the region as social services will be eventually devolved to local government units.

Sandra Macacua, Chief of MSSD’s Protective Services and Welfare Division, reinforced this message, saying, “𝘛𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘐𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘧𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘤𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘰𝘭𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘶𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘢 𝘉𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭—𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘣𝘳𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘴𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘴 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢 𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦; 𝘪𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘢 𝘴𝘺𝘮𝘣𝘰𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘥𝘪𝘨𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘺, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘶𝘯𝘸𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯, 𝘳𝘦𝘨𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺, 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘪𝘷𝘦.”

The facility underwent five months of rehabilitation from November 2024 to April 2025, with a total project cost of Php 14,475,324.60. Built on a 2,483-square-meter lot, the center features specialized training rooms for vocational and social rehabilitation, counseling, computer literacy, massage therapy, cookery, and functional literacy. Other amenities include an outdoor activity area, a clinic, a canteen, a prayer room, a conference room, an observation room, accessible comfort rooms with railings, a guard house, and administrative offices.

According to Social Welfare Officer III Bryan Abdullah, who heads the center, significant improvements include an observation room where trainees can safely express their thoughts and emotions, and the installation of tactile guides to assist visually impaired trainees in navigating the facility.

“𝘐𝘯 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘉𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘴 𝘗𝘢𝘮𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘢 𝘉𝘭𝘨. 344 𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘈𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘓𝘢𝘸, 𝘸𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘴 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘵 𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘮𝘴 𝘵𝘰 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺-𝘧𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘺,” Abdullah added.

The center serves as a vocational and social rehabilitation facility that offers basic services, skills training, and referrals for persons with disabilities to help develop their independence and support their integration into mainstream society.

Originally constructed under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the facility was formally turned over to MSSD on November 3, 2023. Since then, MSSD, in partnership with the City Government of Cotabato, has taken full responsibility for its operations and upgrades. In line with Republic Act 11054 or the Bangsamoro Organic Law, the facility was renamed from “Center for the Handicapped” to “Center for Persons with Disabilities.”

All qualified trainees enrolled in the center receive financial assistance to cover transportation and other training-related expenses. To date, the facility has 112 active trainees and is now capable of accommodating more following its rehabilitation.

Babay Pendi Vargas, 54, from Mother Barangay Tamontaka, whose two children with disabilities are enrolled at the center shared how the facility has positively impacted their lives.

“𝘔𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘬𝘪 𝘱𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘣𝘢𝘣𝘢𝘨𝘰 𝘴𝘢 𝘣𝘶𝘩𝘢𝘺 𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘨𝘢 𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘬 𝘬𝘰 𝘮𝘶𝘭𝘢 𝘯𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘨-𝘦𝘯𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘢 𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢 𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳. 𝘔𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘯𝘢 𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘢 𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘪𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘨 𝘯𝘢 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘣𝘶𝘬𝘢𝘴𝘢𝘯 𝘯𝘪𝘭𝘢. 𝘈𝘭𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘥𝘶𝘭𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘩, 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘪𝘣𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘯𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘱𝘢 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘢 𝘴𝘢 𝘮𝘨𝘢 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘴. 𝘚𝘢𝘯𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘬𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘰𝘯 𝘥𝘪𝘯 𝘯𝘨 𝘨𝘢𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢 𝘪𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘺𝘢,” she said.

[𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘴 𝘣𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘢 𝘣𝘪𝘨 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥𝘳𝘦𝘯’𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘺 𝘦𝘯𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘪𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳. 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘺’𝘷𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘧𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬𝘴 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳. 𝘈𝘭𝘩𝘢𝘮𝘥𝘶𝘭𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘢𝘩, 𝘸𝘦 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘧 𝘧𝘳𝘦𝘦 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘥𝘦𝘴 𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘰𝘸𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘳𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘴. 𝘐 𝘩𝘰𝘱𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘪𝘯 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘤𝘦𝘴.]

The inauguration was graced by BARMM Senior Minister Mohammad Yacob, representing Interim Chief Minister Abdulraof A. Macacua. Also present were MSSD Chief of Staff Atty. Analiza Mones, MSSD Maguindanao del Norte Provincial Social Welfare Officer Hadja Emma S. Ali, Specialized Program Division Chief Guialil Pandi, Persons with Disabilities Welfare Program Focal Person Jaymar Sali, and representatives from the City Government of Cotabato, Office of the City Social Welfare and Development Officer, MBHTE’s Cotabato City Division, UNICEF, Kutawato Greenland Initiatives Inc., PDEA-BARMM, Cotabato City Police Office, DSWD Field Office XII, Cotabato Regional and Medical Center, Combination Blind Massage, Coland Systems Technology College Inc., LAB Law Firm, STI College Cotabato, and other stakeholders, including MSSD personnel, enrolled students, and their families.