DSWD: Don't give alms to street children

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) National Capital Region yesterday asked the public not to give alms to children roaming in the streets to help reduce the number of street children in Metro Manila.

“We would like to enjoin the public to support us in our battle cry to promote ‘tamang tulong ang kailangan, hindi ang pagbibigay limos sa lansangan,’” DSWD-NCR regional director Ma. Alicia Bonoan said.

 She said the public can help address the problem by not giving alms to children who board jeepneys to wipe the shoes of passengers and by not entertaining the mendicants and children who give solicitation envelopes to passengers in public utility jeeps and buses.

 Instead of giving alms, Bonoan encouraged the public to coordinate with DSWD-NCR office, local social welfare and development office, or non-government organizations catering to street children.

The 10 areas with high concentration of street children are Roxas Boulevard in Manila; Kalayaan Road, Barangay E. Rodriguez and Quezon Avenue in Quezon City; Balintawak area in Caloocan City; Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City; Greenhills, Ortigas in San Juan City; Kapasigan in Pasig City; Madrigal Avenue, Alabang in Muntinlupa City; and along NAIA Road in Parañaque City.

The DSWD will partner with the academe, local government units and the private sector in implementing its comprehensive program for street children, street families, especially Bajaus, which aims for zero incidence of street children and street families in identified priority areas.

 Bonoan said homeless street families and Bajaus will be provided with permanent shelter and income-generating opportunities while home-based families of street children will be given livelihood assistance.

 The street children, on the other hand, will be provided with educational assistance and alternative education, health and nutrition services and other support interventions through LGUs and partner NGOs.

 As of June 2012, DSWD-NCR has provided livelihood assistance to 114 families and cash for work to 35 families.

 Some 1,138 street children and 62 Sama Bajaus enrolled in public schools were provided with educational assistance at P2,000 per child, four street families were trained on sampaguita planting, and five families and 12 individual adults were provided with transportation assistance through Balik-Probinsya.