The Department of Social Welfare and Development has started rescuing indigenous people (IP) who roam the streets of Metro Manila for alms.

They usually increase during Christmastime.

This was announced by DSWD Secretary Erwin Tulfo at the flag-raising ceremony at the Central Office, Quezon City on 21 November.

"We have started our rescue operations of our IP, such as the Badjaos and Aetas here in Metro Manila and soon in other big cities. We are sending them home but not without taking care of their problems, which is their livelihood," said Tulfo.

"I have instructed Undersecretary Denise Bragas of our Standard and Capacity Building Group to give P10,000 to each IP family rescued as our intervention to somewhat alleviate them from poverty. And we don't stop there. We will go to their communities to see how our agency can solve their problems and give their children a brighter future," he added.

The DSWD is also contacting the local government in rescuing street children in the next few days.

"Our next mission is to save the street children with the help of every local government unit to ensure that these poor minors are taken out of the streets and put them in classrooms and proper shelters," said the Secretary.

"I know that these are gargantuan tasks. But we have to start somewhere, somehow, to give these young people a fair share of a brighter future."