When life leaves someone lost and wandering unfamiliar streets with no clear memory of how to get home, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) becomes more than an institution; it becomes a refuge.
For every Filipino living with mental health challenges, the DSWD stands as a place where confusion is met with care. This was the lifeline that brought 62-year-old Jesusa Ochea home once more, after getting lost in Manila and away from her family.
Jesusa, a resident of Basak-Sudtunggan in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu province and a beneficiary of DSWD’s Pag-abot Program, is a mother of 11 children whom she raised with her husband, Alejandro Ochea.
Her family describes Jesusa as loving and resilient, someone who worked hard to provide and nurture her children. Yet even in her younger years, there were signs of her deep urge to go out and suddenly getting lost.
Her ninth daughter, Ruby Anne Ochea, recalled how her mother had always been drawn to movement and exploration.
“She still remembers [traveling with day care workers]. She still says that she has a mission,” Ruby explained to the DSWD, referring to episodes that later became clearer as manifestations of her mother’s mental health condition.
In November 2024, the situation took a worrying turn. Jesusa decided to travel from Lapu-Lapu City to Manila wishing to visit one of her children, who was working there. Not long after, she found herself lost with no clear way to reconnect with them.
Jesusa wandered the streets of Manila for over a week, determined to search for her child and relatives. It was a journey driven by hope—but it soon became overwhelming.
“I used to sit around at the 7-Eleven (store). It was just near GMA. I even had an argument with a woman because she questioned why I went to the police (station),” Jesusa shared in Cebuano to the DSWD’s Angel in Red Vests.
Her decision to seek help at a police station became the turning point. The National Program Management Office (NPMO) of the DSWD’s Pag-abot Program was informed and social workers immediately reached out to Jesusa. For the first time in weeks, someone listened, understood, and acted accordingly.
As part of the reintegration process, Jesusa was temporarily sheltered at the Pag-abot Processing Center (PPC) in Pasay City. There, she received immediate care and the basic necessities.
“It was really okay because they had me registered, and gave me (a) blanket, a pillow, a mat, and a towel. I think I stayed there for three days,” Jesusa recalled.
While staying at the processing center, Jesusa underwent a professional assessment. It was there that doctors determined she had a psychotic disorder, explaining her episodes of random wandering and occasional hallucinations that had repeatedly pulled her away from her family.
After days of coordination and tracing, the Pag-abot Program fulfilled its promise.
On November 20, 2024, Jesusa was finally reunited with her family in Lapu-Lapu City where she was welcomed once again by her daughter, Ruby.
For Ruby, the experience strengthened her trust in government support systems. She expressed her family’s appreciation and called for the continuity of the program.
“The Pag-abot Program is really effective. For me, [the program] really needs to continue to others [because] I know we’re not the only ones in this situation,” Ruby said.
Following her reintegration, the DSWD extended livelihood assistance to Jesusa to help her rebuild her life. Today, she manages a small sari-sari store in her community, contributing to her family’s daily needs and regaining a sense of purpose.
As part of the Pag-abot Program implementation, the Department continues to monitor Jesusa even after a year after reintegration.
To date, Jesusa continues to receive regular medical check-ups and the necessary medication through the Lapu-Lapu City’s Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), ensuring that her condition is monitored and managed.
Ruby shared that her family now has a simple but powerful reminder for Jesusa whenever confusion begins to creep in.
“For how many times my mother wanders off, what we always advise her is to go to the DSWD. That is our constant reminder because we know they will help her to find us,” Ruby emphasized.
The DSWD reaffirmed its commitment to individuals like Jesusa through the Pag-abot Program.
Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao, the DSWD spokesperson, underscored the program’s long-term vision.
“The DSWD Pag-abot Program aims to reduce the risks and vulnerabilities of children, individuals, and families in street situations. The DSWD will continue to deliver the Pag-abot program through timely interventions, services, and opportunities that help them (families and individuals in street situations) to live safely, be reintegrated and be productive members of their community,” Asst Secretary Dumlao said on Wednesday (January 14).
Today, Jesusa Ochea’s days are no longer spent wandering unfamiliar streets. Instead, she wakes up at home, tends to her small store, and reconnects with neighbors who welcome her back.
Her story stands as a reminder that with timely care, compassion, and sustained support, even those who feel lost can find their way home again. (KB)
