MANILA, Philippines – A week before Christmas, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) discouraged the public from giving money to children on the streets – a scene very common during the holidays.

The act of giving alms, according to DSWD Secretary Corazon Soliman, endangers the lives of the street children. 

“Caroling on the streets is risky, especially to children who squeeze themselves between vehicles and tap on car windows, or those who jump from one public utility vehicle to another,” Soliman said. “They are unmindful of the dangers to their life and limb.”

Presidential Decree 1563 or the Anti-Mendicancy Law of 1978 prohibits anyone from begging on the street. It also provides a systematic procedure on how to deal with the problem. (READ: Children of the streets) 

However, the 35-year-old law imposes only fines worth P500 ($11)* or P20 ($.45)* on those who engage in begging and giving alms, practically leaving it with no teeth.

The Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC), the highest policy making body on children, sees the holiday season as the perfect time to enforce the law. 

Give to accredited organizations

Soliman urged those who want to help underprivileged street children to channel their assistance and donations to licensed institutions and organizations. 

“If we want to help the mendicants and streetchidren, we must channel this through the proper government agencies, such as the DSWD and several non-governmental organizations,” she said.

In 2011, DSWD reported that there were more than 1,000 children who consider the dangerous streets of Metro Manila as their home.

Each day, they face the recurring problem of sanitation, lack of education, and malnutrition. (READ: Home street home) 

“The government is serious in enforcing existing laws against child mendicancy because we really want to keep children off the streets,” Soliman said. – Rappler.com

*US$1=P44