ANGELES CITY – Mayor Carmelo ‘Pogi’ Lazatin Jr. reiterated that he will not allow any act of exploitation in the city, especially on children and youth.
He bared this to the listeners of Lingkod Bayan, the Facebook live program of the City Information Office every Thursdays, 10 am-11 am, hosted by Deng Pangilinan and Rudy Simeon.
“Agaran tayong nagi-inspeksyon sa mga clubs natin. At patuloy tayong mag-iinspeksyon. Napaka-importante na walang menor-de-edad na nagtatrabaho at bumibisita dyan,” he added.
Upon the previous operation and meetings of the Angeles City Government, he warned businessmen along Fields Avenue all the way to Korean Town at Friendship Circumferential Road not to hire minors in the workplace.
“Hindi natin ‘yan papayagan sa ating administrasyon. Hindi natin papayagan na ma-exploit ang mga kabataan sa termino natin,” he furthered.
According to Mayor Lazatin, the city will stay business-friendly, as long as all are in accordance with the law.
“Napakasimple lamang po ng hinihingi natin. Huwag po kayong maghire ng mga menor-de-edad na trabahador. Magtulungan po tayo,” he added.
He also urged some parents of rescued street children to avoid letting their children wander in the streets, since some of them were caught begging.
“Kailangan din nating ma-educate ang ibang mga magulang. Kapag paulit-ulit ang mga kasong ganito na pagpapabaya sa kanilang mga anak na magpalimos at pakalat-kalat sa daan, ma-oobliga tayong i-demanda natin sila,” he said.
For him, “Nakakalungkot mang sabihin o gawin, pero kailangan pong matuto ang ibang mga magulang na huwag nilang pabayaan ang kanilang mga anak.”
Mayor Lazatin also shared that rescued street children were turned over to City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO).
“Lahat po ng street children pinapakuha natin at ilalagay sa mga center. Nakipag-ugnayan tayo sa reformation center at pati na rin sa Tuloy Foundation para may matuluyan sila,” he mentioned.