The Department of Social Welfare and Development has issued a cease-and-desist order against a private orphanage in Quezon City as its personnel rescued 149 children after receiving a complaint regarding a potential violation of a child protection law.

In a Malacañang press briefing on Tuesday, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian identified various issues hounding the orphanage such as inadequate fire safety measures and ventilation, which prompted the action taken against the orphanage over the weekend.

The DSWD said the cease and desist order was based on a complaint against the orphanage for allegedly violating Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination.

Gatchalian added the orphanage’s hygiene or living standards were “not to the standards” of the DSWD, and that there were no social workers or house parents on-site during the spot check.

The DSWD chief and some agency officials visited the orphanage on Saturday in Barangay Bagumbuhay and during the visit, only the household help was present.

“Through the unannounced inspection, the Secretary was able to confirm that the children in (the orphanage) are in imminent danger and decided that it is in the best interest of the children to be transferred to a safe shelter,” said DSWD spokesperson and Assistant Secretary Romel Lopez said.

Gatchalian, meantime, narrated the status of the orphanage during their visit.

“One, the upkeep was not ideal and the garbage is all over the place. Two, ventilation was an issue because what happened here is that they over-capacitated the orphanage, it’s a privately-run orphanage with an 80 rating, but they are running at 149,” Gatchalian said.

“So, there right there and there, that is already wrong. And the worst part of it is we saw the fire exits and they were sealed or there are grills and that was not acceptable to us, that is a walking fire trap,” he added.

The DSWD said the cease and desist order was based on a complaint against the orphanage for allegedly violating Republic Act 7610 or the Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination.

The facility will not be allowed to operate pending investigation for a maximum period of 20 days.

Gatchalian said the 149 children will be immediately transferred to the DSWD’s care facilities as they cannot be kept at the orphanage due to “imminent danger findings.”