Malate, Manila – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office MiMaRoPa and CALABARZON together with the National Commission on Indigenous People (NCIP) safeguard 49 Tagbanua minors from Coron, Palawan from Bride of Jesus Christ Ministries International Incorporated.

It was reported to DSWD Field Offices of MiMaRoPa and CALABARZON that a number of children are not properly taken cared of the said church-based organization.

Upon careful investigation and validation of the composite team of Social Workers from DSWD MiMaRoPa, CALABARZON and NCIP, the minors were transported by the church-based organization to General Trias, Cavite from Coron, Palawan since May 2015 with the promise of free education, meals and accommodation. During interviews with the minors, it was found out that the minors do not eat enough and proper food and are required to stay up late in the evening to cook for their meals for the next day.  Also, the supposed center where they are staying does not have a proper ventilation nor complete facilities to comfortably accommodate the big number of minors.

“With careful validation and deliberation, the Department believes that the church-based organization is unfit to provide and cannot sustain the needs of the said minors for longer time,” said Karen Uson, Social Welfare Officer. It was also found out that the organization doesn’t have the proper certification from NCIP to provide the promises they made. They are only listed as a religious sector in the Security Exchange Commission (SEC) and not as a licensed and accredited child-caring agency.

Although some are already enrolled in high school and vocational/college courses, the way they are brought in the area is questionable and the current condition in the said center is not conducive to growing children. DSWD wants to ensure the safety of the minors and prevent any untoward incidents that may happen.

“We will make sure that we will return the children to their families safe and sound.” said DSWD MiMaRoPa Regional Director Wilma D. Naviamos.

Uson together with other social workers of DSWD accompanied the minors back home yesterday thru the free use of C130 provided by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Camp Aguinaldo with support from Congressman Franz “Chicoy” Alvarez who shall provide Php2,000 educational assistance to four college students. The social workers will conduct psychosocial processing, profiling and focus group discussions with the families together with the Municipal Social and Development Office (MSWDO). Coordination is being made with Department of Education (DepEd) and Commission on Higher Education (CHED) for the temporary enrolment of the minors in the national high school and Palawan State University Campus in Coron for the easy education transfer processes.

“We will monitor the return of the children as well as be vigilant to any similar acts to be able to ensure the social welfare of the poor and marginalized sectors especially children,” ended Naviamos. ###