COLLECTIONS at the House of Hope Foundation, Inc., a custodial psychiatric care facility in Barangay Lumbia, have sharply declined since the city government took over its operations last year, leaving the institution in dire straits.
“Before the takeover, we had an average of P4.2 million a year in collections; however, this was gone after the takeover,” said Wilson Amad, a team member of the foundation.
He said regular benefactors — including private companies and shopping malls — stopped their donations after the city signed a management agreement with the foundation.
“Mao ning sakit na part sa amoa,” Amad said.
The House of Hope, which provides psychiatric care and rehabilitation to 55 residents, has since resumed regular operations under the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro, despite funding gaps from both the local government and private donors.
“Our staff are back in the facility,” said Monsignor Eutiquiano ‘Tex’ Legitimas, co-founder of the foundation.
He said the city government has yet to release the full financial aid promised under the memorandum of agreement.
“The financial aid from 2023 to 2025, which was promised in the (agreement), has not been given,” Legitimas said.
He added: “We are also hoping for the funds coming from our school affiliations. We’re working it out.”
The agreement, signed on May 19, 2023, stipulates that the city will provide P3 million annually and deploy personnel from JR Borja General Hospital to assist in facility operations.
Despite a city statement assuring that services were “not impaired” by financial constraints, the local government acknowledged that the full subsidy has yet to be released.
Head nurse Julie May Maisog Robles said the facility now relies heavily on outside donations to cover its monthly expenses.
“At the moment, since we’re still starting, we will need P5,000 per month for every service user — that includes board, lodging, and meals. If the patient has no watcher, we’ll need an additional P3,000,” Robles said.
The House of Hope continues to call for community support to sustain operations as it awaits the release of city funds and renewed partnerships with former benefactors.
