DSWD reiterates campaign against giving alms to streetchildren

MANILA, Philippines - Social Welfare and Development Secretary Corazon Soliman reiterated her department’s ongoing campaign against giving alms or gifts to children on the streets and those boarding public vehicles that endanger the safety of minors.

Soliman said the DSWD had been implementing the Comprehensive Program for Street Children, Street Families and Indigenous Peoples since 2011 during Christmas to address this concern.

The program was again implemented this Christmas by the DSWD, but coverage has expanded outside of Metro Manila.

Aside from Metro Manila, the Comprehensive Program for Street Children, Street Families and Indigenous Peoples, especially Badjaos, was also conducted in Central Luzon, Region 4-A or Calabarzon, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas and Davao region.

Under the program, the DSWD provided barangays with a P100,000 fund to conduct Christmas activities in areas where street children and IPs, especially Badjaos from Mindanao, go caroling or begging from jeepney passengers and motorists.

“We encourage all barangays to conduct activities in the activity centers so the street children will not beg or go caroling in the streets during the holiday season,” Soliman said in a statement.

These activities include parol-making, belen-making, caroling, showcase of talents and gift giving. “This way, the children would really feel the Christmas spirit,” Soliman added.

“Through our campaign, ‘Tamang tulong ang kailangan, hindi ang pagbibigay ng limos sa lansangan,’ we encourage the public to help in a proper way and right place, not on the streets because this will only reinforce the children’s beliefs that if they want gifts or money, they can go to the streets,” Soliman pointed out.

Joel Espejo, DSWD social marketing service director, said that the campaign to keep children from caroling in the streets was a priority during Christmas.