DSWD chief asks Talaingod IPs to check exploitation of children

TALAINGOD, Davao del Norte – Aside from hauling about P14 million worth of goods and services for more than 3,000 indigenous peoples (IPs) in Talaingod, Social Welfare Secretary Dinky Soliman brought a message of protection for children from exploitation.

In her speech held last June 19, Soliman assured residents of Talaingod of continued social welfare services and assistance for Talaingod which had been in the list of priority areas of DSWD since 2004.

However, she asked parents to guard against people and groups found using their children during protest rallies to press their respective concerns.

Last June 19, Soliman joined Undersecretary Manny Bautista, executive director of Cabinet Cluster on Security, Justice and Peace; Usec Gettie Sandoval and Assistant Secretary Apple Oreta of the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (Opapp); Assec Jean Ubial of the Department of Health during the Arena Serbisyo Caravan conducted at JBL, Barangay Sto. Niño in Talaingod, Davao del Norte.

A far-flung town of Davao del Norte, Talaingod is home to Ata-Manobos who make up 72 percent of almost 20,000 population.

Stressing the importance of child education, Soliman pointed out that children should be in school and should not be on the streets joining protest rallies.

She bared reports that IP children from Talaingod and nearby towns were taken during a protest rally waged against the Department of Education (Deped).

“Ayaw dalha ang mga bata sa rally (Don’t bring the children to the rally),” she said. “Ayaw sugot nga magamit sila sa ubang grupo; nga gamiton sa mga dili maayong tawo. Ayaw jud magpagamit sa mga dili maayo nga tumong, sa dili maayo nga himo, sa dili maayo nga kalihukan. Kay ngano man atong gikompromeso ang kaugmaon sa atong mga kabataan? (Don’t allow any group to use the children, neither allow them to be used by people of ill-intent. Don’t allow yourselves to be exploited for ill-intension and for activities of no good. Why do we have to compromise the welfare of the children?)” she said.

In a separate interview with the media, Soliman appealed to non-government organizations and faith-based organizations working behind the protest rally against Deped to spare the children, who she said, should be in school. (PIA 11/ Jeanevive DuronAbangan)