THE City Government is once again stepping up its rescue operations this Christmas season against minors caroling in the streets of Cagayan de Oro.
A total of 13 minors were rescued on Tuesday who were caught caroling in jeepneys and private vehicles along the national highway.
City Administrator Teddy Sabuga-a said caroling in the streets is prohibited as it puts one's life at risk.
"Our policy is not against caroling because it is our culture, what we are against is putting your life in danger especially the children caroling in the streets. They should do this not in the streets but in their neighborhood," Sabuga-a said.
Under the Parental Responsibility Code, allowing your minor child to work is a form of exploitation and the parents could be penalized for it, Sabuga-a said, who is also the head of the City Social Welfare and Development office (CSWD).
The minors will be released once the parents heed the invitation of the social workers. The parents will be briefed about the Parental Responsibility Code and will be issued notices of violations.
Parents could face jail time for this offense, he added.
CSWD personnel are also on the lookout for Badjao families who are making caroling a family enterprise this season.
But Sabuga-a said there is a decline of Badjao families roaming around the city because of its intervention, such as providing education and housing program for them.
"What we see in the streets now are actually new families so again they will undergo orientation of the city laws," he added.
Sabuga-a also underscored the importance of the barangay's participation for this campaign. He cited barangays Kauswagan and Bulua which conducted their own rescue operations in the streets.
He said the barangays should be the first to confront the issues in their area of responsibility.
"We want that the initial approach should be the barangays. It will really be a big help if we work together," he said.