Ako ang Saklay, Inc, (ASI) started in 2008 as an outreach and medical mission that responded to the needs of patients at the Philippine Orthopedic Hospital (POH) and of people affected by natural disasters. ASI is the brainchild of a Claretian Missionary, Fr. Arnold M. Abelardo, CMF who during that time was the Chaplain of the Philippine Orthopedic Center. It was eventually registered with the SEC in 2014 as it expanded its scope to provide scholarships to poor college students, services for the empowerment of differently abled persons/persons with disabilities (PWDs), disadvantaged individuals, persons who used drugs (PWUDs) as well as their families.
A 5-hectare lot located in Nueva Ecija was made available to the organization for 15 years under a usufruct agreement that took effect on June 14, 2017. In this lot, the various activities and programs of the organization were developed. These include residential care facilities that can accommodate 30 persons (abandoned children, PWDs and PWUD) at a given time; a farm where the beneficiaries are provided opportunity to plant rice, vegetables, engage in mushroom production, hog/poultry raising, and other skills/livelihood ventures, the income from which are used by the beneficiaries for their sustenance; a chapel where the priests conduct masses for the residents, staff and volunteers; offices and rooms where the different center-based activities are conducted as well as a “homelife” structure/environment where the staff and the beneficiaries are able to experience productive, compassionate, and caring lifestyle without sacrificing the principles of professionalism, confidentiality and privacy.
In year 2016, the Organization in partnership with the provincial government of Nueva Ecija strengthened its residential and non-residential, center-based initiatives towards the rehabilitation (healing) of the persons who use drugs which include not only providing therapeutic treatment services for the drug users with court order under a plea agreement, but also in helping their families cope with the trauma/issues related to their social protection. In March 2021, the Organization entered into a 15-year MOA with the provincial government of Nueva Ecija with the latter providing P290,000.00 monthly operational subsidy to the organization and designated seconded staff, such as a psychometrician, social workers, community/family development workers, physician and police to complement its current workforce.
