Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman urged the public to make this Christmas season safe for children by refraining from giving any amount of money to those caroling on the streets.

Children begging for alms in the guise of caroling on the streets is a common scene this holiday season.

DSWD and the Council for the Welfare of Children (CWC), an attached agency of the Department and the highest policy making body on children continue to advocate the “Anti-Mendicancy Law of 1978” saying that the holiday season should not be a reason to stop enforcing the law.

“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 . They are unmindful of the dangers to their life and limb,” Sec. Soliman said.

Presidential Decree 1563 otherwise known as “Anti-Medicancy Law of 1978” provides an integrated system for the control and eradication of mendicancy.

However, the penalties for mendicants and those giving alms directly to the mendicants are only P500 and P20, respectively.  With such small penalty under the 35-year old law, there is a growing call to repeal it.

Sec. Soliman said the government is serious in enforcing existing laws against child mendicancy because we really want to keep children off the streets.

She advised the public that if they want to help mendicants, they can channel their assistance through agencies and licensed/accredited non-government organizations, or to religious institutions.

As part of the efforts of the Department to keep children off the streets this Yuletide season,  DSWD-National Capital Region (NCR) has been conducting, since the start of the month, Christmas activities at various activity centers in the 17 local government units.

CWC also calls on stakeholders, parents, guardians, and caregivers to ensure that children will not be engaged in  risky activities especially this season.

 At the local level, the Local Council for the Protection of Children (LCPC) and the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children (BCPC) should  report to proper authorities the presence of children beggars in their locality.