MANILA, PHILIPPINES – As the Christmas season is fast approaching, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) appealed to barangay officials and local government units, particularly in Metro Manila, to stop children from caroling and asking Christmas presents on busy streets.
Social Welfare Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman asked for the barangay leaders’ cooperation to ensure the safety of street children, and will be their important partners in assuring the safety during Christmas season.
Barangay officials can help in ensuring street children’s safety by giving activities that would help them enjoy the spirit of Christmas in their own communities.
“Street caroling is risky for children. They are squeezing themselves between vehicles and taps on car windows or jumps from one public utility vehicle to another. They are unmindful of the dangers to their life,” said Soliman.
Soliman also appealed to the public commuters to stop giving alms, it is the reason why children keep on risking their lives seeking for kindhearted people who would find hard to say no to poor children going up and down to public transportation vehicles asking for Christmas gifts.
“We ask the commuters and private vehicle owners not to give. If you will keep on giving them money, they will definitely come back with more company in the crossroads, because they are aware they will get something,” Soliman added.
DSWD Chief said they remedy this problem by providing incentives to the barangays and through “Pasko ng Batang Pinoy” where children spend their Christmas with Pres. Benigno S. Aquino III as an alternative way of avoiding the children to beg on the streets.
Soliman assured that DSWD will try to boost their initiatives this year by providing cash incentives to barangays and LGUs so that they will be able to conduct a nine-day Christmas activity including the Christmas lantern and “belen” making to stop them from begging.