“Sa DSWD, I’m very thankful to all of you po, especially kay Secretary Rex Gatchalian sa pagtulong po sa akin at sa pag-aksyon po sa aking concern na makuha po si baby. (To the DSWD, I’m very thankful to all of you, especially to Secretary Rex Gatchalian for helping me and immediately acting on my concern to finally get my child).”
These were the words of Ms. Melanie Marzan, a single mother from Quezon City, when she was finally reunited with her 20-month old baby boy through the help of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) earlier today at the Reception and Study Center for Children (RSCC).
Baby Boy Marzan was among the 140 children who were taken by the DSWD from the GHI after the Department found various violations in the orphanage that led to an issuance of a Cease-and-Desist Order (CDO) on May 22.
After her reunification with her child, Melanie shared during a press briefing that abandonment was never an option for her when she sought the assistance of GHI to temporarily care for her child.
Being a single parent, she only needed someone to look after him for the meantime since she was also pregnant and working at that time, with no one to help her on childcare.
“Napunta si sa pangangalaga ng Gentle Hands dahil ako ay buntis ng panahon na iyon at nag-aantay ako ng approval for maternity . (I asked Gentle Hands to take care of my baby because I was pregnant that time and was still waiting for my maternity leave),” Melanie explained.
However, when Melanie requested to be reunited with her son, GHI questioned her parenting capability.
“I don’t know what is the grounds, but the parenting capability (PCAR) is already available, so hindi ko rin malaman kung ano ang dahilan nila for holding my baby,” said Melanie.
Meanwhile, Assistant Secretary Romel Lopez that once again the GHI did not comply with in the standards set by the DSWD when it comes to case management of children under their care.
“Papasok iyon sa non-compliance nung facility kasi binigyan ka na ng PCAR or parenting compliance assessment, so dapat mong sundin. (It will fall in the non-compliance of the facility. They were already given the PCAR, so they should have followed the recommendations in it), Asst. Secretary Lopez explained..
Aside from the case of Melanie, the DSWD is also investigating two similar complaints against GHI.
“It is very unfortunate naman na inaakusahan nila kami na nilalayo namin yung mga bata, while si mother ay nilalayo rin nila sa kanyang anak. Ang amin lang po is nirerespeto po namin ang kanilang pananaw. Gagawin lang po namin ang aming trabaho na ma-ensure na lahat ng mga guidelines, lahat ng mga protocols ay nasusunod po sa pagmamanage ng ating mga residential facilities, ng ating pong mga orphanage. Hindi naman po personalan ito, trabaho lang. (It is very unfortunate that they accuse us of keeping the children away, while the mother is also kept away from her child. We respect their point of view. We will only do our job to ensure that all guidelines, all protocols are followed in managing our residential facilities, our orphanages. It’s not personal, it’s just work.),” said Assistant Secretary Lopez.
Melanie plans to return to Pangasinan with Baby Marzan. They will undergo a six month aftercare monitoring under the local Social Services and Development Department.
“Of course kailangan ko pong bumawi kay baby. I need to replace all the memories na na-embed sa kanya sa loob. Na-detach sya sakin so lahat yun gusto kong ibalik sa kanya yung security of attachment na nawala sa amin. (Of course I have to make up for the lost time with my baby. I need to replace all the memories embedded in him from . He was detached from me so I want to give him back the security of attachment that we lost,” said Melanie. #
