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Social Welfare
The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office
(PSWDO) together with other concerned agencies documented cases
of children and women in need of special protection. For the years
2000 and 2001 there was a decreased in number of these children
and women. The figures must be higher considering the fact that
it was a general knowledge that there were more unreported cases
than the reported ones. (Table 6-23)
Aggregately, on top of the list for special attention
were the street children and sexually abused and raped. Inspite
of the concerted efforts of the different agencies of the government
to prevent these cases to happen, some are still increasing in the
worse scenario maltreated children, sexually abused/raped and street
children are steadily in greater number.
Within 2000 to 2001, most of the victims of sexual
exploitation were women and children within ages 6-17. Sad to say,
the perpetrators were their own father, stepfather, relative, neighbor,
and employer.
Most children who were maltreated, neglected, and
abandoned were also trapped in substance abuse. Most of them belong
to the age group 10-14 years old. The reasons for engaging in the
said activity were curiosity, frustration, emotional problems and
influence from friends.
The social problems concerning children resulted
from the inadequate knowledge of parents on child rearing, unsuccessful
pre-mature marriages, extreme poverty, and, alcoholism and drugs
on the part of the perpetrators of sexual abuse.
| Table 6-23 Number of Children and Women
in Need of Special Protection, 2000 to 2001 |
| Type of Cases |
2000 |
2001 |
| 1. Maltreated Children |
13 |
15 |
| 2. Neglected |
11 |
20 |
| 3. Sexually Abused/Raped |
42 |
40 |
| 4. Abandoned |
1 |
2 |
| 5. Street Children |
41 |
45 |
| 6. Incest |
9 |
8 |
| 7. Battered Wives |
6 |
5 |
| 8. Unwed Mothers |
4 |
8 |
| 9. Others/Economically Exploited |
186 |
150 |
| Total |
313 |
293 |
| Source: Provincial Social Welfare and
Development Office (PSWDO) |
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