11 kids gone missing during Kadayawan

THE City Social and Services and Development Office (CSSDO) on Thursday said six children went missing at the height of this year's celebration of the 27th Kadayawan sa Dabaw.

But thanks to CSSDO's help desk set up over the weekend at Rizal Park where Kadayawan's culminating activities were held, these kids were immediately located by their parents.

Liwayway Caligdong, city's assistant social welfare officer, said these children endorsed to the help desk were claimed by their parents in just few minutes.

"Ambot lang kung kinsa ang nawala, ang anak ba or ang ilang mga ginikanan (I don't know if who were left behind, was it the parents or the children)," Caligdong jokingly said.

Last year, CSSDO recorded 11 children who were left unattended by their parents or guardians also during the main celebration of Kadayawan.

"Siguro karon, aware na ang mga ginikanan kay gamay nalang man ang mga nangawala na bata (It seems that parents this year are more aware because the number of endorsed children have decreased)," Caligdong added.

She said parents attending events, especially at crowded venues must be mindful of the children they are bringing because bad elements abound.

Every major festival, CSSDO is putting up a help desk to attend to various needs of the public and one of them is facilitating missing children.