by Mai Gevera, N. Duallo

Davao City (25 September) -- After the opening of the Kasanag Drop-in Center, a project of the City of Mati Welfare and Development Office, there had been an increasing trend of the number of street kids seeking refuge in the said center.

Social Welfare officer Virgie Almaida said that the street kids from other neighboring towns have also took advantage of Kasanag.

"Most of the children we are catering to came from broken families," she said.

Said children range from six to 15 years old.

With the noted increase of street children now finding home in the Center, the Social Welfare and Dev't Office now opts to strengthen its course on effective parenting.

"We are inviting the parents of the children for the sessions. But more often than not, it's usually the mothers who are attending. But it would have been better if the fathers are coming also because most abuses in the family are usually committed by the fathers", Almaida explained.

Some children have already stayed long in the Kasanag Drop-In Center.

"There are some who are here for the past six months. As such, we are able to educate them", she furthered.

Giving basic lessons to the children are the six house parents, two of whom were former day care workers.

Almaida boasts that the children increased their literacy with the tutorial sessions given by the house parents.

However, she admitted that they are really facing financial constraints now.

"We must understand that we have to provide their basic needs, particularly food. But I thank our social workers because they are indeed, very good in resources generation, so we still manage to survive despite all the limitations", she added.