DSWD urges officials to stop children from caroling on Metro Manila streets

MANILA, Philippines – With Christmas season approaching, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) appealed to the barangay officials in all local government units particularly in Metro Manila to prevent children from doing caroling and asking Christmas presents on busy streets swarming vehicles.

Social Welfare Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman appealed for the barangay leaders’ cooperation to ensure the safety of street children as they are important partners in assuring the safety during Chrismas season.

Soliman added that barangays can help in ensuring children’s safety by assigning activities for children who want to enjoy the spirit of Christmas in their own communities.

"Caroling on the streets is risky, especially to children who squeeze themselves between vehicles and tap on car windows, or those who jump from one public utility vehicle to another. They are unmindful of the dangers to their life and limb,” Soliman said.

The Social Welfare Secretary also appealed to the public commuters to stop giving as they are the reason why children keep on placing their lives at risk citing that kindhearted people find it hard to say no to poor children going up and down public transportation vehicles asking for Christmas gifts.

“We ask you (referring to commuters as well as public and private vehicle owners) not to give… If you will keep on giving to them (children), they will come back and more children will be going into crossroads because they know they will get something,” Soliman said.

DSWD Chief said they remedy this problem by providing incentives to the barangays and through “Pasko ng Batang Pinoy” where the children spend a Christmas party with President Benigno S. Aquino III as a way of encouraging children to heed the agency's call to stop begging on the streets.

Soliman assured that they will try to boost their initiatives this year by providing cash incentives to barangays in critical areas so that they will lead in the conduct of nine-day Christmas activities including Christmas lantern making and “belen” for the children to stop them from resorting to street begging.