TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines — Journalists in Eastern Visayas do not only disseminate the news; they do humanitarian works as well, thus the officers and members of the Police Regional Office-8 Press Corps gathered last October 17 to serve the homeless children at the downtown area of this city.
Miriam Desacada, of DyVL radio and The FREEMAN newspaper, who is the president of the PRO-8 Press Corps, said, “This activity is also in observance of this year’s celebration of Children’s Month, but we hope to do a similar activity in December.”
A good number of street children milled around the police outpost in the busy public market area in Tacloban to receive their pairs of slippers, bottled water and a cup of chicken porridge topped with egg, toasted garlic, chopped onion chives and crushed chicharon.
PRO-8 supported the event itself, with the help of the Leyte provincial and Tacloban City governments, and barangay officials led by Lolita Tumambing.
Barangay committee on children chairperson Councilman Rosario Dobe joined the newsmen in distributing hot porridge to the street children, including some passers-by.
Desacada said the PRO-8 Press Corps was also evaluating which deprived sector will be the recipient of the organization’s outreach program tentatively set in December this year.
Jimmy Angay-angay of DyVL and PRO-8 Press Corps vice-president for Leyte, for his part admired the street children of their religiosity when they prayed first before partaking of the free meal and receiving their gift items.
He, however, felt sorry for their condition saying: “These children lack guidance and care of their parents that led them to commit infractions of the law.”
These homeless children needed regular guidance and proper nourishment to make them productive citizens of the community, he added. (FREEMAN)