‘Bai ni Ompo’: Province acts to protect abandoned elders’ right to care, family, and home on NewsLine Philippines - Building Information Highway for the Community
DAVAO CITY (December 9) — In a province where elderly citizens are too often left to fend for themselves, Davao Oriental is racing to build its first government-run home for abandoned and neglected seniors — a move anchored not just in welfare, but in the basic human right to dignity in old age.
Called “Bai ni Ompo” or “home for the aged,” the planned center in Mati City will serve as a refuge for elders who have been left without family support, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) representative Reynante Cruz said at the Kolokabildo sa Davao Oriental media forum.
The project, long envisioned by Governor Nelson Dayanghirang, aims to correct years of inadequate protection for vulnerable senior citizens, many of whom are currently placed in non-specialized shelters far from home — making family tracing and reunification even more difficult.
“For seniors who have been abandoned or neglected, returning to their own province is already a step toward restoring their dignity,” Cruz said. “We want them to spend their remaining years cared for, valued, and seen.”
Under the plan, the provincial government will fully subsidize care — from daily needs and medical assistance to psychosocial support — recognizing its obligation to ensure that no elderly person dies in neglect. End-of-life services will also be integrated to guarantee a compassionate and dignified passing.
The center will begin with a 40-bed capacity and is targeted to open in 2026. Provincial engineers are finalizing the program of works and a three-year operational plan, while PSWDO teams conduct benchmarking across the region to mirror best practices in admissions, staffing, and resident protection.
Cruz said the model draws from the province’s “Happy Home” for former rebels, emphasizing structured care and sustainability rather than one-off charity.
Since the facility will be based in Mati City, the province plans to sign MOAs with local governments to ensure systematic referrals and shared responsibility in supporting abandoned seniors — many of whom have long been invisible in social protection systems.
At present, only two government-run elderly facilities serve the entire Davao Region. Davao Oriental has 11 abandoned seniors temporarily housed in Tagum City, with the province absorbing all costs.
“This is about acknowledging that our senior citizens — especially those who have no one — have the right to care, safety, and dignity,” Cruz said. “They built the foundations of our communities. It’s our turn to protect them.”
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‘Bai ni Ompo’: Province acts to protect abandoned elders’ right to care, family, and home
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