Talisay steps up crackdown on street carolers
The jeepney- hopping and street carolers are more visible now in cities like Talisay in southern Cebu as the Christmas season begins.
This prompted City Social Welfare and Development Chief Felipa Solana to call on barangay tanods to help monitor and rescue children who go caroling on the streets or onboard any public utility vehicles.
"Ato gi-coordinate sa barangay tanods nga mag atiman sa mga bata ilabi naa SRP manaygon. Kada gabii na gyud ni sila magbantay," she said.
Solana said keeping children off the streets will also keep them away from harm.
She said the public should not also give alms to street children and carolers to discourage them to go to the roads and potentially endanger their lives.
Street kids sing Christmas carols in exchange for loose change inside public jeepneys or along busy streets, unmindful of the danger they pose to motorists crossing their paths.
In fact, the city government has been rescuing carolers along the South Road Properties. Carolers proliferate in Barangays San Isidro and Dumlog.
The parents of the rescued carolers were summoned and were told to monitor and keep their children away from the streets and PUVs.
San Isidro Barangay Captain Marietta Bucao, for her part, said carolers have started trooping to the streets last week of November.
She admitted that it has been a recurring problem every Christmas season.
Instead of putting their children’s lives in danger, Solana urged parents to accompany them in going house to house caroling, not on streets.
"Kung manaygon man gyud taga balay nalang, kuyugan lang gyud sa mga ginikanan kay wala man ta kahibaw unsay mahitabo kun sila lang," she said.