The City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), in partnership with the Tambayan Center for Children’s Rights, Inc., celebrated the International Day for Children in Street Situations (CISS), bringing together around 70 children from various barangays for rights-awareness sessions, and justice advocacy at SIR Elementary School on April 12, 2026.
Michael Marfe, Compre Social Worker of CSWDO said that children in street situations are not a problem or criminals, but young citizens who deserved to be respected and empowered.
“Ang CISS or Children in street situation, dili sila problema, dili sila kriminal, biktima lang sila sa sitwasyon. So, atoang ihatag ang ilahang katungod despite nga silay mga CISS, bata lang gihapun sila in general. So, atoa silang panggaon tagaan nato sila og sila dako nga respeto ug dignidad sailahang pagka tao (The CISS or Children in Street Situations, they are not a problem, they are not criminals, they are just victims of the situation. So, we should give them their rights because they are still children in general. So, we should give them respect and treat them with dignity),” he told Madayaw Davao over Davao City Disaster Radio on April 14, 2026.
Children are also being equipped with positive life skills, self-awareness, and protective behavior, helping them resist unsafe situations and exploitative practices while asserting their right to education and protection.
Meanwhile, results from CSWDO’s 2025 reports reflected a steady decline in CISS though the years with a total of 385 children, 237 boys and 148 girls, rescued and served by the Quick Response Team for Children’s Concern (QRTCC) and different barangays.
“Sa mga previous years ug karon, nikunhod gyud siya, dili na siya ingana ka daghan. So far, makita man pod nato sa atoang dakbayan sa matag kalsada kay continue man ang atoang adbokasiya sa atong IEC campaign nato nga wala natay bata sa kalsada nga dapat naa sa skwelahan, naa tay ingana nga promotions. Then, with collaborations sa matag mga barangay para ma lessen gyud tung mga naa sa kalsada nga mga bata (In the previous years and until now, it has really decreased, it’s not as many as before. So far, we can see in our city on every street because our advocacy in our IEC campaign continues, ensuring that there are no children on the streets and they should be in school. Then, we also have collaborations from each barangay to really lessen the number of children on the streets),” Maria Liela P. Perez, Child Technical Staff of CSWDO said.
Perez also urged Dabawenyos to avoid giving money or goods to children on the streets, stressing that true support means guiding them back to school and safe environments.
The City Government of Davao continues to uphold children’s rights and build a safer, more inclusive community for them. CIO
Written by: K. Malasado
Edited by: A. Nawal