Monday, August 08, 2004 City offers assistance to street kids By Ben O. Tesiorna and Aurea A. Gerundio
DAVAO CITY -- Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte offered transportation allowance and scholarships to street children in the city as long as they stay away from the streets.
Duterte known as the punisher, the "Dirty Harry" of Davao City made the deal with the street kids during a simple dinner with more than a hundred children Friday at Shanghai restaurant.
The mayor said the city will provide transportation allowance for those who wanted to go back to their parents in the provinces.
The city will also sponsor scholarship for street children who wanted to study and will give jobs for those who wanted to work, Duterte said.
The mayor said those who are 18-years-old and above who do not have any job can report to the Women's and Children's Section Chief, Royena Vilela to get assistance in finding a job.
Those who are homeless, Duterte said will get assistance in finding a place to sleep and those who are not from Davao who wanted to go home to their respective hometowns, the city will provide for their transportation back home.
Duterte reiterated his willingness to help the kids for as long as they don't get involve in unlawful acts.
"Kung magbinuang mo, hawa na lang mo sa Davao kay dili ko uyon nga magsamok-samok mo diri. Di nako na madawat. Ug di nako madawat, delikado gyud mo(If you do wrong, then get out of Davao because I will not tolerate such actions here. I will not accept that. If it is not acceptable to me, then you are in danger)," Duterte said.
Children present during the dinner welcomed the announcement with a thunderous applause.
Thirteen-year-old Chacha Salve from Surigao City was only six years old when she first came to Davao City. Her neighbor in Surigao, 13-year-old Jessmar Sumayang, followed Chacha two years after she ran away from home. They were reunited here in Davao.
Both lived in the city streets when they first arrived here. They get their food out of begging and watching parked cars. Both admitted to have sniffed rugby but they swore never to have been involved in snatching unlike their other friends in the streets.
They usually stay along Rizal Street near two known restaurants. This is where they spend the night, before being "adopted" by the Balay Dangupan.
Few street kids and youth alike were killed by motorcycle riding gunmen known as the Davao Death Squad (DDS) in the said area.
Chacha blamed the deaths to DDS.
Most of the street kids and youth feared being caught by Duterte having committed crime in city streets. "Kung madakpan daw mi niya bunalan mi sa iyang latigo (If he will caught us he will hit us with his whip)," Chacha said.
But the minors after the talk with Duterte said the mayor is after all good as long as you do not do wrong.
The mayor also welcomed being feared by the street kids saying there has to be an authority the kids have to obey.
The mayor admitted that his approach might be unconventional but effective nevertheless.
A total of 128 street children were invited for a dinner with the mayor and other city officials.
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