MANILA – Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Friday warned private child care facilities that maltreat their wards of corresponding punishments.
“Hindi ko naman nilalahat. Alam kong marami po tayong mga care facilities na pribado na minamahal ang mga bata. Pero dun sa mga mangilan-ngilan na may ginagawang hindi tama sa mga bata, mahuhuli at mahuhuli kayo ng DSWD at ang hustisya natin ipapataw duon (I am not generalizing. I know we have a lot of private care facilities that love children. But to the few that maltreat the children, the DSWD will catch you and justice will be served),” Gatchalian said during a media interview on the sidelines of the payout activity for the beneficiaries of Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) in San Fernando, Pampanga.
This came in the wake of the DSWD’s cease and desist order (CDO) on New Life Baptist Church of Mexico, Pampanga Inc. (NLBCMPI), which is accused of child abuse violations and non-compliance with the agency’s registration, license to operate, and accreditation standards.
“Hindi nyo pag-aari 'yung mga kabataan na nasa inyo kundi ipinagkatiwala lamang sila sa inyo ng lipunan, ng pamahalaan para arugain, mahalin, pangalagaan. Wala kayong karapatan na tratuhin sila ng masama o saktan niyo sila (The children are not your properties but only entrusted to you by society, by the government to take care and love. You don’t have the right to abuse or hurt them),” Gatchalian said.
He told reporters that social workers from the DSWD’ Field Office-Central Luzon, which has the jurisdiction over the NLBCMPI, are making sure that the children from the care facility are provided with appropriate interventions to enable them to cope with the trauma.
The social workers will conduct counseling for the children and will facilitate the reintegration of those who are ready to go back to their respective families.
“Yung may mga trauma, sisiguraduhin na muna natin na makakakuha ng counseling, ng debriefing. Pangalawa may iba kasing mga bata na ready na for reintegration sa kanilang mga pamilya so tulad nga ng discuss ko kay Governor Baby [Pineda], kailangan natin ibalik 'yung mga pwede ng ibalik sa kanilang mga pamilya lalong lalo na 'yung may mga magulang na may kakayahan naman na alagaan ang kanilang mga anak (We will ensure that they will receive counselling and debriefing for their trauma. Those who are ready for integration, like what I have discussed with Governor Pineda, those ready to return to their families will be returned, especially those whose parents have the means to take care of them),” Gatchalian said.
He added that those who need further rehabilitation will stay at various facilities of the DSWD.
As of press time, the DSWD Central Luzon regional office has already identified the centers where the children can be transferred for temporary custody, while further assessing those who will be eventually reintegrated with their families. (PNA)