The Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) on Thursday rescued at least 42 streetkids and their parents, and convinced them to undergo a long-term program to improve their condition.
From the streets in downtown Cebu City, the children and parents were brought to the Parian Drop-in Center and will be turned over to the different foster homes.
“It’s not good for them to stay on the streets. We requested them to go with us so they will undergo a program that includes livelihood training so they can provide for their own needs,” said Senior Insp. Arieza Otida, chief of the Women’s and Children Protection Center of the CCPO.
The city police on Monday signed a covenant with civic organizations and government agencies to implement “Operation sa Gugma,” a unified program that caters to the needs of street children, children at risk and children in conflict with the law.
Otida said the streetkids and their parents voluntarily went with them after police operatives explained to them the program.
Otida said the street dwellers will eventually be reintegrated back to society once they finish the program in the different foster homes.
“They were very cooperative. We didn’t force them to go with us. Fortunately, they understood what we conveyed and they went with us,” Otida said.
The program was implemented in cooperation with the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Cebu City Prosecutors’ Office, and different non-government organizations.
The other stakeholders include Law Inc., Zonta Women’s Club of Cebu 2, the Juvenile Justice Welfare Council, the Task Force Street Children, the Children’s Legal Bureau, the Dilaab Foundation Inc. and the Don Bosco Boy’s Home.
Otida said they will conduct rescue operations regularly but refused to divulge the specific schedules.
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