The Department of Education (DepEd) has commended Taguig’s Yakap Center for Children with Disabilities as a national model for inclusive education, therapy, and skills training.
Inaugurated on Feb. 26, the four-story facility located in Barangay Calzada-Tipas features therapy services, such as physical, occupational, and speech therapy; specialized consultations with rehabilitation doctors and developmental pediatricians; educational programs, such as the Early Intervention Program, Deaf/Hard of Hearing Program, and Braille Literacy Program; and learning and creative spaces, including an E-Library, Music Room, Dance Studio, and Sensory Rooms.
Aside from the medical and educational services, the Taguig Yakap Center will offer a livelihood program teaching essential skills to beneficiaries through the Equal Grounds Cafe, located right next to the facility.
The café will allow them to gain work experience as baristas, kitchen staff, and servers, helping them develop job skills, earn a living, and become self-sufficient members of the community.
DepEd Assistant Secretary for Curriculum and Teaching Jerome Buenviaje praised the facility, calling it a model that other local government units (LGUs) should follow, according to a news release on Friday.
“Nang makita ko ang inyong pasilidad, ang unang pumasok sa isip ko ay ‘sana all.’ Mapalad po kayo (When I saw your facility, the first thing that came to my mind was ‘I wish everyone has it.’ You are lucky). Congratulations to our LGU Taguig for extending this blessing to the citizens of Taguig,” Buenviaje was quoted as saying during the inauguration ceremonies.
As an advocate for special education and the former dean of the University of the Philippines College of Education, Buenviaje said Taguig’s approach sets a new gold standard for accessibility and support for children with disabilities.
He also underscored the importance of a strong partnership between DepEd and the Yakap Center, ensuring that programs reach more children in schools.
Buenviaje said he is optimistic that Yakap Center’s impact would serve as a benchmark for educators, policymakers, and LGUs across the country.
Meanwhile, Mayor Lani Cayetano said the Yakap Center fulfills Taguig’s commitment to inclusion and shows the city’s dedication to turning plans into real, impactful programs that uplift the lives of persons with disabilities and their families.
“Ang programang ito ay patunay na sa Taguig, hindi lang tayo nagpa-plano – tinitiyak nating nagiging totoo ang ating mga pangarap para sa ating mga kababayan (This program shows that in Taguig, we don’t just plan – we ensure that our aspirations for our constituents become a reality),” she said
The center has enrolled 265 children, catering to a wide range of medical and developmental conditions, including autism, Down’s syndrome, cerebral palsy, learning disabilities, and speech-language disorders.
With a team of medical professionals, therapists, and educators, the center aims to provide a holistic approach to the well-being of children with disabilities. (PNA)
