Peer pressure, struggle for power and survival. These are just some of the reasons why some children, commonly called by media as ‘batang hamog’ prefer to stay on the streets.
Rolando, 15 years old from Las Piñas City has made the street his home and his playground for almost a year now. He was lured to street dwelling because of peer influence and defiance to his parent’s advice. He goes home when he wants to.
On the street, Rolando has been exposed to factors that led him to commit crimes. He found friends that he calls his gang. They frequently got into trouble, such as throwing of stones to other group, stabbing their opponents and solvent sniffing.
Rolando was apprehended by police operatives for snatching.
Under Republic Act 9344, no child 15 or younger may be charged for a criminal act. Minors above 15 but below 18 may be held criminally liable only if they are shown to have acted with discernment.
In the case of Roland, he was not jailed. Instead, he was turned over to the Social Development Center of the city of Las Piñas under the supervision of the City Social Welfare and Development Office to undergo diversion program.
Now, Rolando has been part of the recently launched Cash for Work Project for street children of the Department of Social Welfare and Development in the National Capital Region (DSWD-NCR).
DSWD-NCR Regional Director, Ma. Alicia S. Bonoan said that the project aims to provide opportunity to street youth to develop positive skills and experience community service by rendering certain number of hours of work with appropriate supervision of local social workers and authorities.
Bonoan explained that children on the streets like Rolando are more prone to become children in conflict with the law (CICL) because the risk factors are higher than protective factors. This means that their found peers would drive them to commit offenses and their limited life skills, lack of love and attention from caring adults make them more vulnerable.
“This is one way of diverting the children to prevent them from committing street crimes, begging, scavenging and vending on the streets,” Bonoan added.
At least 157 identified street children from 17 LGUs in Metro Manila known to the community as ‘batang hamog’ will benefit from this project.
Youths will render four hours of community service and shall be paid with P303.00 per day for 30 days.
“Under this project, the youths shall render community work such as street sweepers, garbage collectors, assistants in activity centers, and volunteer in community sports fest activities among others.
Rolando has learned a lot of lessons from his diversion program. He shared that the hardships in life are challenges and that God helps us overcome them.
“Ang lahat ng pagsubok ay bigay ng Diyos. Huwag lang mawawalan ng pag-asa dahil hindi naman Siya nagpapabaya, basta magsumikap lang ang tao,’ Rolando shared.
He sees that this project is an opportunity for him to change for the better and be an active member of society. ###