RSCC celebrates 41 years of caring neglected children, recognizes partners

CEBU CITY -- The Reception and Study Center for Children (RSCC), a facility for neglected, abandoned, and surrendered children ages 0 to 6, celebrated its 41 years of caring these children and expressed its gratitude with a recognition and appreciation event on February 23 this year to highlight these various partnerships with the theme, “Building Hope and Nurturing Dreams: 41 Years of Love and Care for Children.” 

RSCC is located at Camomot-Franza Road, Labangon, Cebu City run and managed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-7). The recognition event thanked individuals, academic and private institutions, national and local government units, RSCC staff and all those that contributed to the welfare and development of these children.

The RSCC recognized Dr. Ma. Theresa Fortunato and Dr. Priscila Fernando, for medical and psychological services respectively as individual awardees while the Regional Authority for Child Care (RACCO) is the only government agency to receive recognition this year.

RACCO is a quasi-judicial agency of the Department and a partner of the RSCC in bringing children into a loving family using alternative parental care through the process of adoption and foster care.

“The partnership between RACCO and RSCC has not only been about policy and program implementation, it is a significant bond that champions the rights and welfare of children. It is deeply rooted in a shared advocacy for children’s rights and the promotion of adoption as a noble and loving option for child care,” RACCO officer-in-charge, Concepcion Solera said in her acceptance speech. 

Recognizing the academic and private institutions is easy as these groups of “helpers” lighten the tasks of everyone at the RSCC.  The awardees included the Cebu Institute of Technology University-Department of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences for its psychological and counseling services; the Cebu Doctors University-College of Rehabilitative Sciences for the deployment of therapy interns and clinical instructors.

The University of Southern Philippines Foundation-College of Social Work for the deployment of social work interns; the College of Teacher Education, Arts, and Sciences for specialized free training to center staff; and the AB Music Chorale for various musical therapy sessions.

Also recognized were private institutions like the Fil-Canadian Training and Development Center for the deployment of caregiver interns and Quilario Birthing Center for the provision of milk every year.

RSCC also thanked these non-government organizations such as the Kaisang Buhay Foundation (KBF) in Quezon City for a monthly donation to buy medicines and other supplies, and the Cebuano Arts Club for the enhancement of the Early Childhood and Care Development (ECCD) room inside the center.

RSCC also recognized the LGUs of Barili and Talisay City for their sustained partnerships with the center through medical assistance for all their referred clients. In returned for the recognition received, LGU Talisay City presented a plaque of recognition to the RSCC Center Head Jenneth Aquino.

“We are proud that RSCC has sustained partnerships in providing love and care for abandoned and neglected children.  The center is a sanctuary for children, offering them a chance for a better future by giving them the possibility of a loving family through the process of adoption,” Aquino said, adding that the recognition is a testament of the stakeholders’ humble appreciation for the partnerships.

RSCC also recognized its former center staff who received loyalty and citation awards: Arcadia Barlas for serving the facility for over 25 years as a houseparent and Roselyn Bandibas for being the most innovative.

The 41^st anniversary celebration this year had a parade around the center's compound in Camomot Franza Road, Labangon, Cebu City, holy mass and Zumba with its staff, partners and clients as some of the highlights of the opening salvo on February 19.

RSCC also carried out dental services, team building, and self-care activities to improve camaraderie and the welfare of staff, whom the center considered heroes, working 24/7 in the background whose daily sacrifices make a difference in the lives of the children.

RSCC’s goal is to give utmost protection of children from abuse in a nurturing environment that suits their special needs, with the objective of providing psyco-social interventions to these children, most suitable alternative parental care to contribute to their optimum growth and development. (Photos: DSWD7/RSCC-FB/@Kerwin Marcopia)