Davao City (DSWD XI) – The 14 children with ages 14 to 17 years old who were rescued in Talaingod in the morning of November 29 are now being taken care of at the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) residential facilities.

Originally 15 all, one child has already gone home with his father to Talaingod on that same day.

Upon arrival at the center, the children who are currently enrolled in a Salugpungan community learning center in Barangay Palma Gil, Talaingod town, underwent intake interview by social workers and were oriented on the DSWD facility.

Of the 14 children, 12 are girls and 2 are boys whose parents have already visited and talked with them as well as with the social workers handling the case.

To date, the children who hail from Palma Gil and Nasilaban in Talaingod; Inayaman and Kalagangan, Bukidnon; Arakan, Cotabato Province; Zamboanga Del Sur; and Colombio and Sinapulan in Sultan Kudarat have already been provided with psycho social interventions such as counseling, art therapy, writing in journal and others.

The children have also been integrated with the other children in the center to keep them engaged and productive while awaiting processing of the case.

The 12 girl-children are presently staying at Home for Girls and Women in Maa, Davao City while the two boys are with Home for the Aged in Tagum City. (DSWD)