The Eastern Police District (EPD) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will soon launch a campaign to rescue street children and mendicants in Metro Manila.

Chief Supt. Benjardi H. Mantele, district director of the EPD, said “Anti-Street Dweller Campaign” is aimed at saving street dwellers, especially minors, from becoming potential criminals.

“The Philippine National Police (PNP) is trying to prevent them (youth) from becoming children in conflict with law (CICL). If not checked early, these small children could develop into potential criminals in the near future,” said Mantele.

“The street children are not only the problem of the police and the DSWD. We want other groups such as the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and local government units to participate in the project to make this a success,” he said.

Mantele said aside from the EPD and DSWD, the project is being supported by the MMDA, the National Center for Mental Health, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) – Bicutan Rehabilitation Center, and various local government units.

He said another dialogue will be conducted by the EPD, DSWD and other agencies to intensify their role in the project.

“Through this final meeting, the Letter of Instruction will then be handed out to target the role of every participant in this project,” Mantele said.

The District Public Safety Management Battalion (DPSMB) headed by Senior Supt. Napoleon Villegas will lead the campaign.

Among those who attended the meeting held at the EPD headquarters in Pasig City last Friday were Senior Supt. Napoleon Villegas, the battalion commander of the DPSMB; director Amante Salvador of the MMDA’s Metropolitan Social Services Office; Alpha Martin, psychologist III of the NCRPO’s Bicutan Rehabilitation Center; Dr. Celia A. Tuazon and Dr. Melrosa Nazario, child psychiatrists from the National Center for Mental Health; Cerrillo Sibunga and Elena Sespina of the DSWD Mandaluyong, Roselle Camagos of the DSWD San Juan; Patricia Luna, assistant regional director of DSWD NCR; Mary Grace Cabucol, Social Worker Officer 1 of the Bicutan Rehabilitation Center and Mylene Nazario, of DSWD in Pasig City.