Social Welfare and Development Secretary Dinky Soliman said that the parents of children caught in the video on a drinking spree that was exposed in the social media will undergo the seminar on parent effectiveness once a month for six months to enhance their knowledge, skills, and attitudes in parenting.

Secretary Soliman added that the parents who expressed their regret over the incident have also signed a letter stating that they will not allow their children to drink liquor and will closely supervise them.

Moreover, the store owner who sells the liquor to the minors was visited and strictly warned not to allow children to buy liquor or face sanctions.

It can be recalled that the official Facebook account of the DSWD received numerous complaints from concerned citizens regarding a 4-minute Youtube video of children “on the alleged drinking spree” that caused uproar among netizens. They asked the DSWD to trace the video source and to apprehend the responsible adults for the incident.

Secretary Soliman said that the DSWD, through its regional office in Region IV-A immediately coordinated with the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) of Calamba, Laguna on January 26, 2013 for the a home visit of the address provided by an unidentified telephone caller.

An investigation revealed that a day prior to the incident on December 25, 2012,   the children already expressed their plan to drink liquor but their parents did not permit them.  Upon the insistence of the children, the parents finally allowed them.  The children confided during the interview by the social worker that they contributed to buy the liquor.

A parent who took the video admitted that she uploaded it in her Facebook account not knowing that somebody may access it.

As a result of the investigation, the CSWDO of Calamba immediately provided counselling sessions to the 11 children involved together with their parents and guardians on January 28, 2012. The CSWDO of Calamba will continue to provide counselling and other necessary interventions. Likewise, both parents and children will be required attend a seminar on Online Safety Session to keep them safe online.

“We urge the public to remain vigilant and immediately inform concerned authorities about incidents of child abuse in their communities. Maximize social media networks,”  the Secretary stated. ###