MANILA, Philippines—The shelter for street children being managed by the Manila City government is understaffed and ill-equipped to care for more than 50 children, according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Social Welfare Assistant Secretary Javier Jimenez also said that the Manila Reception and Action Center (RAC)—likened by a nongovernment organization (NGO) to a concentration camp—was not meant to provide long-term support to its wards.
Jimenez told Radyo Inquirer on Tuesday that the RAC was currently looking after 200 street children when it was built to accommodate only 50. The shelter is located on Villegas Street, just meters away from Manila City Hall.
“Since 2012, we have been telling them to add more staff, improve their facilities and decongest because they have many children; they are really overburdened. Their center cannot manage the number of children,” he said.
The shelter recently came under fire after Bahay Tuluyan showed a photograph of “Federico,” one of the children staying at the center, as proof of the poor conditions there. There were also allegations of sexual abuse, torture, bullying and negligence, sometimes perpetrated by RAC staffers or by bigger and stronger kids.
Center just meant for ‘processing’
Bahay Tuluyan deputy director Catherine Scerri also said that they learned just recently that a child died at the center in mid-2013 after he was beaten by other wards. No one was punished as a result of the incident, she added.
The DSWD is responsible for setting standards for the registration, licensing and accreditation for centers for street children.
Jimenez said the RAC was meant to be just a processing facility. Rescued children are supposed to be fed, bathed and returned to their parents or referred to NGOs with facilities for the long-term care of children.
He added that they had told shelter officials not to accept more than 50 children.
“If they cannot do it, they should just close down, or other NGOs should help since the center is really overburdened,” Jimenez told the Inquirer.
The DSWD runs the Jose Fabella Center which takes in children who have no families. Javier cited other possible facilities like a reception and study center for girls or other centers operated by nuns or NGOs.
“The other groups help out in accommodating the children, depending on which facility have vacancies or accommodations for long-term intervention for the children,” Jimenez said.