The Philippine Online Chronicles

The government is aiming to have “zero street children” by the end of the year.

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) secretary Dinky Soliman cited a rapid appraisal conducted in November 2010 which says there are over 4,000 street children in the Metro, particularly in Manila, Quezon City, Caloocan, Pasay, Pasig, Parañaque, Mandaluyong, and Muntinlupa.

The agency previously identified ten areas in Metro Manila where these children are usually found, including the corner of Quezon Avenue and Agham Road in Quezon City, Rizal Avenue in Metro Manila, the corner of Edsa and Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City, and Monumento in Caloocan City.

“These are areas that are first of all crowded," Soliman said. "They [street children] have a lot [of people] to ask money from. Or, for those kids who are used by syndicates, they have a lot of potential victims.”

Soliman said that they “are closely coordinating with the local chief executives (LCEs) of the eight priority areas with the highest incidence of street children to achieve our goal of zero street children by the end of this year.” She also said they have invited 17 LCEs to sign a memorandum of agreement for the implementation of the comprehensive program for street children.

The comprehensive program for street children includes: the establishment of activity centers; day and night child minding centers to be identified by the concerned LGUs; youth camp; provision of sustainable livelihood for the families of street children; sampaguita planting projects; and the relocation of Bajau families and street families.

The DSWD-NCR is also providing P2,000 worth of educational assistance and an after care services program for Metro Manila street children. At least 1,000 children from 17 LGUs of NCR are currently enrolled in the education program.