The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is tasked to protect and promote the well-being of all Filipinos. These include people who, for some reason or another, are living on the streets — homeless, vulnerable, and/or internally displaced.
Hence, the DSWD has established several care and residential facilities, especially in urban areas like Metro Manila. One of these facilities is the Jose Fabella Center (JFC). In this article, we will talk all about this center — its history, target clients, programs, and services.
What is Jose Fabella Center?
Jose Fabella Center (JFC) is a national reception and diagnostic center. Recently, it has expanded its services to accommodate street dwellers, displaced persons, persons with disabilities (PWDs), groups and families in crisis situations, and other individuals in need.
The facility is located at WelfareVille Compound, Correctional Road, in Mandaluyong City.
Brief History
The center is named after Jose Fabella, who was a notable Filipino doctor and public health advocate. In fact, he is known as “the father of public health and social welfare” in the Philippines.
Aside from the center, several other institutions and infrastructure have been named after Jose Fabella, including:
- Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital, a hospital in Santa Cruz, Manila;
- Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital School of Midwifery, a training school for midwives in Santa Cruz, Manila, established in 1922;
- Jose Fabella Memorial School, a public school at WelfareVille Compound, Mandaluyong City, established in 1925; and
- Dr. Jose Fabella Road, a two-lane street that circumvents portions of the WelfareVille Compound in Mandaluyong City.
Target Clients
As mentioned earlier, Jose Fabella Center accommodates street dwellers as well as groups and families in crisis situations. These are people who are non-residents of the 17 Local Government Units (LGUs) of Metro Manila.
Specifically, the target clients of the center may be categorized as follows:
- Mendicants or beggars;
- Vagrants (including those without physical disabilities and psychotic vagrants);
- Transients;
- Improved male mental patients; and
- Male trafficked victims.
Programs and Services
Most of the clients at Jose Fabella Center are people who have been reached out from the streets. The facility has a bed capacity of 220. The staff include social workers, caregivers, and other workers.
When admitted to the center, clients are provided temporary shelter and basic social welfare services for two (2) to six (6) months. Here, they are given medical assistance, educational assistance, and other services. In addition, recreational activities for children are also done, to help them regain their self-worth and self-esteem.
Notably, in 2014, the center temporarily accommodated families and children from Tacloban City; families whose houses had been destroyed by Typhoon Yolanda.
Latest Updates
Meanwhile, here are the latest updates about Jose Fabella Center, based on recent social media posts:
Visit from DSWD Secretary. Last February 2023, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian visited the center to learn about the needs of individuals and families who had come from the streets, as well as improved mental patients.
LAB for All Project. Last December 2023, the “Lingap at Alagang Bayanihan (LAB) for All: Christmas for All” Gift-Giving Project was held at the center. It was organized by the Office of First Lady Liza Marcos and other government agencies, including the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and of course, DSWD. Private groups and associations also took part in the project.
Sportsfest 2024. Last month, April 2024, the Jose Fabella Center (JFC) sportsfest was held. Residents participated in various games and sports competitions.
Donation of Drinking Fountain. Just recently, on 9th May 2024, the center received a Refrigerated Drinking Fountain (RDF). The donation was made by Lingap Ampunan, in coordination with Manila Water Foundation and Manila Water Makati-Mandaluyong Service Area. During the event, drinking water tumblers and IEC posters were also given to the center. Aside from JFC, other institutions that received RDFs were DSWD-NCR Sanctuary Center, Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking, and Nayon ng Kabataan.
Video: Over 200 Street Dwellers Receive Gifts at JFC
Last December 2023, more than 200 street dwellers at Jose Fabella Center received Christmas gifts as part of the “Lingap at Alagang Bayanihan” or “LAB for All” program, an initiative of First Lady Marie Louise “Liza” Araneta Marcos. Aside from gifts, the beneficiaries also received livelihood training.
In the following video, PTV presents a news report about the event:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Meanwhile, here are some commonly asked questions — and answers — about Jose Fabella Center:
1. What is Jose Fabella Center?
Jose Fabella Center of JFC is a national reception and diagnostic center. It accommodates street dwellers, persons with disabilities (PWDs), displaced persons, groups and families in crisis situations, and other individuals in need.
2. Who is it named after?
The center is named after Jose Fabella, a renowned Filipino doctor and public health advocate, who was also called “the father of public health and social welfare” in the Philippines.
3. Who are its target clients?
The center caters street dwellers, along with groups and families in crisis situations who are non-residents of the 17 LGUs of Metro Manila. These include: mendicants or beggars; vagrants (those without physical disabilities and psychotic vagrants); transients; improved male mental patients; and male trafficked victims.
4. What are its programs and services?
Upon admission to the center, clients are given temporary shelter and basic social welfare services for a period of two to six months. They are provided medical assistance, educational assistance, and for the children — recreational activities, as well.
5. How can I learn more about it?
You can learn more about Jose Fabella Center by getting in touch with its contact details, which are given below.
Contact Information: Jose Fabella Center
Address: WelfareVille Compound, Correctional Rd, Mandaluyong, 1550 Metro Manila
Telephone: 02 8531 8697
Website: https://ncr.dswd.gov.ph/centers-and-institution/jose-fabella-center-jfc/
Google Map:
Final Thoughts
Facilities such as Jose Fabella Center provide temporary shelter and basic services to those who need it the most. Here, street dwellers, displaced persons, and PWDs can expect to receive the care and services they need, as social workers strive to look for more long-term solutions to each of the residents’ cases.
Speaking of street dwellers, the DSWD has another initiative: COMPRE, which is a program designed for people living on the streets. Check out this article to know more about this program!