The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has come to the aid of the parents of a 1-year-old child who was abducted on December 10 in Barangay San Bartolome, Quezon City, and later recovered safe in Navotas City.

The family, who had been living and begging on the streets since September after the father lost employment as a construction worker, has been assisted by the Pag-abot Program and is undergoing further assessment for possible livelihood or employment aid.

The DSWD social workers visited the couple and their child in Barangay Fortune, Marikina City, where the family has temporarily relocated to the residence of the mother of the female partner following the return of their child.

Initial assessment confirmed that the family had been sleeping and begging in the vicinity of San Bartolome for approximately four months. The couple clarified that the child was taken intentionally and that claims made by the suspect regarding receiving food in exchange for the child were not true.

The child was safely reunited with the parents on December 16 after concerned citizens coordinated with authorities upon recognizing the child from a social media post.

Police investigation led to the arrest of the 20-year-old suspect, who admitted to using the child for begging.

“Abducting a child is a grave and unacceptable act, and the Department strongly condemns any form of exploitation of children. We remind all parents and guardians to be vigilant and never entrust their children to strangers under any circumstance,” Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao said on Monday (December 22).

Following the safe return of the child, the DSWD’s Pag-abot team conducted an evaluation and confirmed that the family qualifies under the homeless or street-dwelling category of the program.

The DSWD will conduct a second round of assessment to determine the specific interventions suited to the family, including potential livelihood assistance or employment facilitation, particularly considering the father’s experience in construction work.

“The Department of Social Welfare and Development stands ready to provide the necessary support to ensure that this family does not return to the streets and is given a fair opportunity to rebuild stability and security,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao said.

The Pag-abot Program became one of the government’s flagship programs through Executive Order No. 52, which institutionalized the program as a platform for an enhanced and unified delivery of services to vulnerable and disadvantaged children, individuals, and families in street situations, through the provision of social safety nets and protection against risks brought about by poverty. (KI)