The Aug. 20 Siloy Is Watching photo published in the Aug. 20 issue of Cebu Daily News.
THIS refers to your photo published under “Siloy is watching” last Saturday with a caption “These street children are seen playing on the sidewalk in front of a mall in Barangay Mabolo. Despite the Cebu City government’s effort to “rescue” them, they continue make the sidewalk their home”.
ATTENTION: Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)”.
We have observed similar post on August 3, 2016 issue of Cebu Daily News.
We would like to clarify that based on the Republic Act 7160 or the Local Government Code of 1991 the Local Government Units (LGUs) have the responsibility in the delivery of health and welfare services and the implementation of programs and projects for children, primary health care, maternal and child care, etc.
Moreover, the role of the Local Government Units (LGUs), through their City or Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (C/MSWDO) is to be the first responders by leading in the reach out and profiling of street dwellers, based on the Protocol to Reach Out to Street Children published by the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC).
As the frontline service provider of social welfare and development services, the LGUs are in the best position to know and address the needs of their people.
Thus, we are referring your concern to the Cebu City Government through its Local Social Welfare and Development Office.
DSWD will continue its role in providing technical assistance and capacity building to LGUs and other stakeholders implementing programs and services for street children.
We hope that this clarification finds space in your newspaper. — Leah T. Quintana, Regional Information Officer, Office of the Regional Director DSWD FO-VII