ANGELES CITY — The city government of Angeles continues to rescue distressed children off the streets.
“For the first year of my administration, the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) had its hands full,” Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr. said.
Records from the CSWDO show that from July to December 2019, a total of 374 street children were rescued. Of the total number, 205 were brought back to their parents, while 104 were referred to the ‘Tuloy Foundation’ temporary shelter.
“We have also referred 48 children to the Home for Girls, while another 231 were referred to Bahay Pagasa. In addition, we have also served 114 out-of-school youth,” Lazatin said.
Aside from referrals, the CSWDO said that 36 abused, neglected, and abandoned children were accorded temporary shelter at the Home for Girls, while 198 teenage boys have been given temporary shelter at the Bahay Pagasa.
Under the Child Youth Welfare Program or Day Care Service, the city reported that there are now 76 Child Development Centers, which served some 4,700 kids aged 3 to 5 years old.
“In addition to street children, we also prioritize the welfare of mentally challenged individuals. In fact, during the lockdown period in May, we rescued 16 homeless individuals with mental health problems, and transferred them immediately to the Metro Psych Facility in Pasig City for further treatment. Three of them were already reunited with their loved ones, but another four with mental problems had been also rescued and taken to the same hospital,” the mayor said.
In coordination with the CSWDO and the Gender and Development Office, the city government rescued a total of 26 mentally challenged and homeless individuals which they housed in a facility, and allotted PhP4 million for their medical care.
In addition, the city has also conducted feeding program to 450 children; assisted 163 individuals in their birth certificates; and provided medical check-ups to 296 beneficiaries, and dental services to 16 individuals.