DSWD to probe conditions in Manila’s ‘concentration camp’ for street children

Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines―The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said Sunday that it will form a fact-finding team to investigate the conditions inside the Manila Reception and Action Center (MRAC), a shelter for street children, which was described by observers from a non-government organization as a “concentration camp.”

“I will order a fact-finding team to look at the conditions in the Manila Reception Center. We can provide technical assistance to the City of Manila Social Welfare and Development Office,” Social Welfare Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman said in a text message as relayed by communications secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. in an interview over state-run Radyo ng Bayan.

Coloma added that the national government is willing to extend assistance to the Manila city government to improve the conditions at the children’s shelter.

“The national government is willing to help the Manila city government to improve the conditions in the Manila Reception Center,” Coloma said in Filipino.

The operators of the shelter have been accused of negligence and maltreatment after observers from Bahay Tuluyan, an NGO advocating for children’s rights, noted that the street children suffer from poor health and nutrition. Also, the children interviewed by Bahay Tuluyan said that they are reportedly being tortured and abused by MRAC staff.

The MRAC, which is operated by the Manila Social Welfare Department, was established 30 years ago as a shelter for vagrant children.

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