CCPO launches feeding program for street kids

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Police Office will soon start feeding hundreds of street children through its “Piso sa Pulis Alang sa Batang Libod Suroy” project to be launched later this month.

CCPO director Melvin Ramon Buenafe said they wanted to do something about these children who mostly resort to snatching or pickpocketing, but are not criminally reliable.

“We cannot arrest children, but we can do something. Kuwang sa pagtagad lang ni sila. So maayo pa atong ayuhon og pagtrato para maundang sa ilang dautang binuhatan,” Buenafe told The FREEMAN.

Buenafe cited Joavan Fernandez, the controversial son of Talisay City Mayor Socrates Fernandez, as an example.

“In need ra siya sa maayong approach. Usahay gud ang tawo tagdon nimo in a right manner and project him in a right way,” said the CCPO director, who accompanied Joavan in his feeding program.

In line with the project, Buenafe said, each member of the CCPO can contribute P1. Everytime the contribution reaches P500, Buenafe said they would conduct a feeding program to 100 children.

“Right now, more than 800 (policemen) mi sa CCPO. Naa ta’y P100 magasto lang nato usahay sa unnecessary things like cigarettes, vino, or cosmetics. But dili pugson ang pulis na mo-donate,” Buenafe said.

Buenafe said some businessmen, private personalities, and even foreigners who were victimized by street kids, have pledged to donate for the project, which is part of police role model program.

He said the project will be beneficial not only to the children, but also to the public who they victimized, as well as the policemen themselves.

“Para maging symbiotic ang approach. The children will look up to sa police as role model, so the police are also obliged to behave properly or improve their good manners and right conduct. We act as a friend and interact with them,” he said.

The feeding program will be launched at their headquarters.

Meanwhile, the Don Bosco priests and brothers formally launched a program for children in conflict with the law (CICL) with the blessing of a residential facility called Magone Home.

The home, located at the compound of Don Bosco Boys’ Home and Training Center in Liloan, is a 24-hour residential facility designed to provide aftercare treatment to CICL who have undergone rehabilitation as they are being prepared for reintegration into society as productive and socially-able citizens.

Magone Home is anchored on the Philippines’ Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act and is supported by Jugend Dritte Welt, a German non-government organization, and the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.

The blessing was graced by Most Reverend Patricio Buzon of the Bishop of the Diocese of Kabankalan in Mandaue City, Cebu City Councilor Margot Osmeña, among others. – (FREEMAN)