Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) urges the public to give donations to street children through the department or local government units (LGU) this holiday season instead of on the streets.
The Social Welfare Department is also set to reactivate and enhance the activity centers for children in barangays by the start of the 2017 to keep them off the streets.
One of these street children is 11-year-old “Samantha” – not her real name. She considers the busy streets of Mandaluyong her second home.
Every night, she and her friends navigate these streets to earn money.
One by one, they knock on the windows of cars stopped at the traffic light to sell sampaguita necklaces for ₱10 each.
This Christmas season, Samantha and her friends are excited. Bearing their improvised musical instruments, the children sing their favorite Christmas carols for motorists
They say they do this to collect more money for their families for the holiday festivities, adding they are not afraid and that they are used to cars whizzing by them.
On the first night caroling, a number of car and jeepney passengers have already given them some coins which they received with smiles.
The DSWD says giving alms to street children is not prohibited and they highly discourage it.
Ina Silverio, DSWD media officer, said “Generally kasi dini-discourage natin yung mga kababayan natin na magbigay sa kanila ng limos kasi nasasanay sila. So they think it’s a good thing na they get money from passers-by or from car owners na pag kumatok sila don.”
[Translation: We generally discourage giving alms to children on the street because they get used to it. The children think it’s a good thing to get money from passers-by or from car owners.]
There are over 200,000 street children in the Philippines, most of them are in the busiest cities in Metro Manila.
The DSWD says one of its first projects for 2017 is to reactivate safe spaces for children in barangays.
Silverio says, “This 2017, isa sa mga thrust ni Secretary Taguiwalo is to reactivate the services, activity centers for children. These are activity centers which are based in the barangays all over the National Capital Region. Yung mga activity centers na ito sana they will become better-equipped para maentertain yung mga bata. Pwede sila doon mag-aral, matuto, magbasa.”
[Translation: This 2017, one of the things that Secretary (Judy) Taguiwalo wants to do is reactivate the services, activity centers for children. These are activity centers which are based in barangays all over the National Capital region. We hope these activity centers will become better-equipped so that children will be entertained. There, they can study, learn, and read.]
The DSWD encourages the public to course their donations through the department, local government units, or groups that regularly organize outreach activities for the children.
