SOME 25 street children living under the Ysalina Bridge in Carmen village, Cagayan de Oro City, will be celebrating Christmas at the Mother Theresa Foundation after they were rescued by city officials Friday morning, December 23.
City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD) chief Teddy Sabuga-a said the children were gathered by city social workers through the Special Clean-up Operation.
Sabuga-a said most of the children have been neglected by their parents and have become addicted to solvents.
The street children are now at the Mother Theresa Foundation in Maitum, Puerto.
Sabuga-a said the city welfare office will profile the children and will have them undergo a rehabilitation program for at least three months.
"Mura pud ni og droga kani ilang gasinghoton so kinahanglan gihapon sila og rehab (They're sniffing a drug-like substance so they will still undergo rehab)," Sabuga-a said.
After the rehabilitation period, the children will be re-assessed and will be turned over to their parents.
CSWD will take care of the orphaned children.
"Kita ang mahimong parents sa uban nga wala nay ginikanan (We will be the parents to those who don't have one)," Sabuga-a said.
