Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso warned the parents of minors living on the streets of the nation’s capital that they will be held responsible for neglecting their children.
“To parents of minors who let their children loiter in the streets – sniffling solvent, letting them lay out in the roads, Taft Ave. – don’t think that I’m not paying attention. One way or another, I will find a way to hold you responsible for not taking care of your young children,” Domagoso said.
He made the statement after he was asked what happened to the so-called “solvent boys” on Rizal and Taft Avenues.
“One of the main issues that I raised before the MDSWD (Municipal Department of Social Welfare and Development) and to our policemen is to round up all the solvent boys in the streets, Rizal Avenue, in parks and so on and so forth and then bring them to the MDSWD and then to Boys Town,” he said.
But Domagoso said that he is willing to talk to the parents of these children. “Alam ko na challenging magpalaki ng anak, totoo ‘yan, lahat naman tayo nakararanas niyan. Pero yung isoga mo nang isoga ‘yung anak mo sa kalye, tapos ‘yung parang balewala na lang sa iyo, na bahala na, e tingin ko naman wala namang masama na kung ‘yung mga magulang ng mga batang ito makausap ko nang masinsinan,” he said.
The mayor said this should break the “vicious cycle” and the parents should step up because the city government of Manila would not stop caring for their children. (Erma Edera)