In a significant development for the residents of Manila, Mayor Honey Lacuna spearheaded the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Kalinga Center in Paco on January 24, 2025. This modern 10-story facility, located at the intersection of Quirino Extension and Zulueta Street, aims to consolidate various city hall social services into a single, accessible location. The center will replicate the services provided during the mayor’s regular ‘Kalinga sa Maynila’ community outreach events, which include health care and other essential social services. By bringing together heads of different city offices, the center will enable immediate responses to residents’ queries, complaints, and requests, eliminating the need for them to visit city hall. Additional services at the Kalinga Center will include job fairs, free pet vaccinations, ID card services for senior citizens, solo parents, and persons with disabilities, as well as applications for birth and death certificates. Mayor Lacuna emphasized the city’s commitment to funding the project independently, with a total cost of PHP973.3 million. Phase 1, costing PHP400 million, is expected to be completed by December 2025, while bidding for Phase 2 is set for February 2025. The building will also feature specialized facilities such as the Senior Citizens Affairs Office, a Youth Center, a Crisis Center for Women and Children, a Trabaho Center, a modern public library, a Bahay ng Barangayan Center, a multi-purpose convention center, and a performance arts theatre. In addition, Mayor Lacuna announced plans for a new skate park at the Paraiso ng Batang Maynila park near the Manila Zoo in Malate.
Manila’s New Kalinga Center: A Comprehensive Hub for Social Services
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