Youth org calls to improve gov’t policy for parentless children

MANILA, Philippines — Paslit, a youth-led policy advocacy organization, is calling for the improvement of government policy for children without parents.

Paslit is an organization formed for abandoned, neglected, and orphaned children (ANOCs).

“Through our comprehensive agenda, we hope to kickstart a collective effort to improve government policies that concern parentless children,” Executive Director Iñaqui Mangahas said in a statement recently.

Among the organization’s agenda is to lobby support for bills beneficial to the community such as street children’s rights, moratorium on aging out of foster children, and recognition and protection of foundlings.

Also on Paslit’s agenda are additional funding for child-caring institutions, promotion of social work, and technical assistance to local government units.

The organization’s policy champions are Vice President Leni Robredo, Senators Risa Hontiveros and Pia Cayetano, Commission on Human Rights Commissioner Gwendolyn Pimentel-Gana, and human rights lawyer Chel Diokno.

Mangahas encouraged stakeholders, advocates, and government leaders and institutions to help parentless children in need.

“There are millions of Filipino children who are abandoned, neglected, or orphaned. Let’s not allow our society to turn its back on them,” Mangahas said.

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