HOME FOR KIDS. Pastor Daniel Joseph Eclarin, site manager of Shekinah Home in Dingras, Ilocos Norte, discusses with the members of the Ilocos Norte board of Ilocos Norte the services they offer to orphans, abused, and abandoned children in this undated photo. An urgent resolution was approved on Wednesday (May 4, 2022) to formalize the provincial government's partnership with Shekinah Home. (Photo by Leilanie G. Adriano) LAOAG CITY-The Ilocos Norte government is partnering with Shekinah Home, a duly-accredited shelter for orphans and abandoned children in the province. As a contender in the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG), provincial social welfare and development officer Lilian Rin said Wednesday the shelter complements the province's social welfare services program particularly in providing a second home for abandoned and abused children in the province. Established in 2015, the Shekinah Home shelter for children is located in Barangay Cali in Dingras town. "As of the moment, we have 11 wards under our custodial care," said Pastor Daniel Joseph Eclarin, site manager of Shekinah Home which can accommodate up to 20 persons at once. Though there are facilities that are available for children in the province, Rin said there is no residential facility yet like Shekinah that provides around-the-clock shelter and protection for toddlers and older children who may need it. According to Eclarin, their primary job is to provide custodial care for orphans and abused and abandoned children. Once they are ready, these children may be up for legal adoption in close coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development. Previously, the Ilocos Norte government established its own provincial learning and drop-in center for working mothers but it only operates eight hours a day. The operation of the drop-in center, however, was stopped to give way to the ongoing construction of the expansion building of the capitol. (PNA) }