The holidays are fast approaching and more children are expected to be on the streets peddling or asking for alms.

Street children, many of whom are thin and untidy, risk their limbs on the streets. These children are not safe on the streets as they are prone to vehicular accidents and their health and nutritional status are compromised.

DSWD-NCR Regional Director Alicia Bonoan, in her State of the Region Address (SORA) during their regional office’s 36th Founding Anniversary on 24 October 2014 reported that the areas in Metro Manila with high concentration of street children are along Roxas Boulevard in Manila and Pasay City; Quezon Avenue in Quezon City; and NAIA Road in Parañaque City. The DSWD’s “Report a Street Child in Metro Manila Program” aims to rescue street children in the Metro Manila through the use of micro blogging site, Twitter.

The public can help save the street children from the hazards of the streets by reporting them to the DSWD for rescue through the DSWD Twitter using the following format: savestreetkids/complete name of street/intersection/ nearest landmark/time of sighting. The DSWD will deploy social workers to rescue these children. (ELF/MEVF/NNCNCR)