Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 18) — Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian will visit Socorro, Surigao del Norte on Thursday to map out a plan to gradually bring back basic government services to members of the Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc.
Gatchalian says the goal is to reach out and and assist some 3,000 residents in Sitio Kapihan, about 1,000 of whom are children, who have been isolated from society.
He said he believes interventions done by national agencies will be quicker if there is coordination with the local government.
“Uunahin ng DSWD at ibang mga human development agencies ibalik ang governance sa loob ano ano yun? Healthcare, education, social welfare,” the senator said. “Bukas patungo ako ng Surigao, hindi sa site kasi kailangan kong tagpuin muna si governor pati mayor ng Socorro para mapag usapan namin.”
[Translation: The DSWD, along with other human development agencies, will prioritize returning governance. This means healthcare, education, social welfare. I will go to Surigao tomorrow, not to the site because I have to meet with the governor and the mayor of Socorro so we can discuss the issue.]
The DSWD chief said they will conduct deeper profiling alongside the Departments of Education and Health, its social workers, and child and family psychology experts.“Mababa yung literacy level, yun ang feeling namin,” he said. “Pangalawa obviously nakita ng mga social worker namin may kakulangan sa health interventions, mataas ang malnutrition. Pangatlo obviously mayroon tayong mga psychosocial issues na kailangang harapin.[Translation: We feel the literacy level is low. Secondly, obviously social workers saw the lack of health interventions, malnutrition is high. Thirdly, obviously there are psychosocial issues that should be addressed.]The DSWD chief cited reports of cohabitation among minors, minors with adults, as well as teenage pregnancies.
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Gatchalian admitted it will not be easy to change the mindset of the members of the alleged cult.He said members who spoke with their social workers have this “general sense of contentment” with their lives despite the lack of basic services.
“This will take some time, but we’re working with the necessary psychology experts,” said the secretary. “Kasi ang biktima dito ay hindi lang yung bata but yung pamilya mismo. May parents doon na yung pag-iisip ay normal ang nangyari sa kanilang anak. Which is hindi eh.”
[Translation: This will take some time, but we’re working with the necessary psychology experts. Because the children aren’t the only victims here, it’s the family. There are parents who believe what is happening to their children is normal — which it is not.]
The Department of Justice earlier said members of SBSI are facing complaints for the reported abuse of over a thousand children.
