Abused women and children

BEHIND THE SCENES
Alfred P Dizon

BAGUIO CITY – Babies could die if untouched by humans, studies have proven and it is a pity there are parents who neglect, abandon or even kill their toddlers basing from news reports. But there is one place called the Silungan Center in nearby La Trinidad, Benguet where poor, abused, neglected and abandoned kids are housed and given succor.

The first time an acquaintance visited the Silungan, she made a prayer and promised to the Almighty that if her application to work in Dubai would be granted, she would help the children.

So every time she came home, she made it a point to visit the Center and give food and items to the kids. For her, it had always been a depressing and happy experience.

The lady, a native of Sablan, Benguet who requested anonymity, said the tots would scream for her attention and race to be held or cuddled. “The few hours,” she said, “the children may have felt there was somebody who wanted to care for them. “Leaving was always heartbreaking as they clung crying, asking when I would come back.”

Staff of the center told her they were lacking in amenities for the kids, so they had to ration everything – from food to diapers. The kids come from diverse backgrounds – some abused or left in doorsteps of people by parents who couldn’t afford or didn’t want to care for them.

Kindhearted souls have reportedly adopted some toddlers. But the rest are still there, not allowed to go out unless with a companion. They face an uncertain future. For lack of funds, they could be “released” anytime by the DSWD to their families or relatives who didn’t care for them enough or were their abusers in the first place.

Some of these unfortunate kids, though no fault of their own, have been condemned to a life of destitution when at their age, they should be given the care and opportunities they need.

Like our acquaintance, more advocates to ease their plight like nongovernment organizations are needed not only at the Center but elsewhere in this blighted republic.

This, considering that government funds are appropriated more to agencies where corrupt politicians or officials have more commissions or under-the-table grease money which is another story.

Liza Balao, staff of the regional DSWD office, said in Baguio, there is the non-government Ship Foundation and Consuelo Homes Foundation which also cater to children up to 12 years old. The CHF reportedly concentrates more on babies and girls.

There is also the Silungan Center, Lingap Center and Haven Homes, all under the government’s DSWD. Haven Homes caters to abused women of any age and children of any gender aged 7 to 17.

From January last year to date, the Silungan accommodated 1,620 persons, 75 percent of whom were children. At the Social Development Center in Barangay Irisan, there were 532 admissions. Balao said most children admitted to the centers have been apprehended by the police for vagrancy or petty crimes.

The DSWD has one of the lowest budgets among line agencies of the Philippine government, reason why agency officials say they cannot adequately help suffering women and children who are in dire need. At the Silungan Center in North Drive, Baguio, Balao said more beds are needed considering that some have been destroyed by children and teens who were taken in.

According to the DSWD, lack of funds is one reason why they have to release marginalized children and women to their families or relatives (even if they were the abusers) and even if they were not “processed” properly like being subjected to counseling services.

Considering that children and abused women’s welfare are still low in the government’s priorities, private advocates could alleviate their dire living conditions by lending a helping hand.