Chairman Margarita P. Juico Press Statement on Child House
By: Margie P. Juico, PCSO Chair

Allow me to put the Child House issue in context. The Child House is a project of the Ricky Reyes Foundation.  It is operated and managed exclusively by the foundation and its staff. PCSO is only one of its partners. The others are the Metro Manila Development Authority and the Technology and Livelihood Resource Center (TLRC).

On top of allowing it to occupy a PCSO-leased building free of charge, the PCSO is also providing it with medical and financial assistance for its indigent patients coming from the provinces.

Both the Child House and the PCSO are tenants of the Quezon Institute, it is owned by the Philippine Tuberculosis Society.

Several conditions were imposed on the PCSO and PTSI when it accepted the pre-termination agreement on October 7, 2010. I quote one of them: “All permissions given by PCSO to occupy any area/building to any organization shall likewise be terminated by November 28, 2010.”

The PCSO has decided to vacate the premises upon the findings and recommendation of the structural engineers. Continued occupation of the buildings will imperil the lives and safety of the PCSO employees, guests, clients and other tenants.

That is why, two months ago, the PCSO formally advised Child House to vacate the premises for the safety of their patients. If there was a problem, it should have been brought to the PCSO’s attention so that together, solutions can be found.

I also want to emphasize that since the Child House is an initiative of the Ricky Reyes Foundation, even if the PCSO leadership had wanted to, it cannot impose its will on the people behind the Child House.

Ricky Reyes has to decide for the Child House. The PCSO leadership cannot decide for him. Whatever decision he comes with up with, whether to move elsewhere or to stay put, the PCSO will continue to help the children from Child House and other indigents who are seeking medical assistance from the government. ***