Child abuses cases up in Baguio; officials alarmed

BAGUIO CITY – Child abuse cases here have risen alarming officials.
    The City Social Welfare and Development Office bared significant increase in child abuse cases that interventions with the families of the victims and perpetrators were needed.
    Assistant City Social and Welfare and Development Officer Cynhtia Langagan disclosed that for the first six months of this year, there were 96 child abuse cases reported in the city compared to the 45 cases that were recorded during the whole year of 2022.
    For the children in conflict with the law, Langagan cited 36 cases during the first semester of this year compared to 82 cases documented by the CSWDO for the whole year.
    For children at risk, the CSWDO official said for the first six months of this year, there were 15 cases compared to the 43 cases reported last year.
    According to her, the majority of the children in need of special protection belong to dysfunctional families that is why there was need for the CSWDO to enhance local government’s advocacy on family relations.
    Langagan said the local government will be aggressive on organizing fora on strengthening family relations in partnership with the various offices and the barangays to contribute in informing the residents on how to preserve the relations within their families.
    She added results of case studies of the victims of child abuse prepared by the CSWDO will be basis for the local government to make interventions to reduce child abuse incidents. --Dexter A. see