Street children from Pasay City reunite with their mother in Manila on December 20, 2023, with the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s help via the “Pag-Abot sa Pasko” project. Photo from the DSWD
MANILA, Philippines — Two street children and a senior citizen were reunited with their respective families in time for Christmas.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said Sunday that the children were able to be with their mother again on Wednesday, Dec. 20, through the help of the agency’s Pag-Abot Team in Pasay City.
The DSWD’s “Pag-Abot sa Pasko” project is an intensified implementation of their flagship program “Oplan Pag-Abot,” which looks after the welfare of homeless individuals and families.
“The team came across these siblings and brought them to the processing center for food provision before they were accompanied to Manila where their mother stays,” Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs Irene Dumlao said in a statement.
In a separate reach-out operation, an 84-year-old man in Quezon City was also reunited with his family in the Municipality of Manabo, Abra on Dec. 14.
READ: DSWD’s Oplan Pag-Abot program helps 750 homeless people
The agency said its Pag-Abot Team first endorsed the elderly, whom it identified as Tatay Alfredo, for temporary residential care in the DSWD-run Golden Reception and Action Center for the Elderly and Other Special Cases in September. Eventually, the DSWD brought him back to his hometown last week.
“Part of the interventions under the project for families and individuals in street situations is the provision of temporary shelter while awaiting for their actual reintegration into their families and communities,” Dumlao explained.
Under Oplan Pag-Abot, reached-out families are provided with Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations, and “Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-Asa” program, among other services, the DSWD said.
“Pag-Abot sa Pasko exemplifies our commitment to bringing families together, especially this yuletide season,” Dumlao noted.
The DSWD said the Pag-Abot sa Pasko project will run until Dec. 31.