Cohabitation in Soccoro, a big problem for DSWD

Cohabitation among minors, minors with adults, as well as teenage pregnancies, are the main problems at the Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc. in Socorro, Surigao del Norte, Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian said Thursday.

Gatchalian said reports reaching his office noted that there are 21 cases of cohabitation recorder in the area, which include three male minors with adult women, two both minors, and 16 adult males with a minor lass.

Gatchalian admitted it will not be easy to change the mindset of the members of the alleged cult.

"We need to break their concept. All of them were victims, this will take time to reverse their mindset. As we don't want to displace these families, right to education, health care, and social welfare," he said.

The DSWD, along with other human development agencies, Gatchalian added, will prioritize returning governance. This means healthcare, education, and social welfare.

LGU intervention

Gatchalian also flew Thursday to Surigao del Norte to map out a plan to gradually bring back basic government services to members of the Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc.

Gatchalian says the goal is to reach out and and assist some 3,000 residents in Sitio Kapihan, about 1,000 of whom are children, who have been isolated from society.

He said he believes interventions done by national agencies will be quicker if there is coordination with the local government.

"I have to meet with the governor and the mayor of Socorro so we can discuss the issue," he said.

He added that they will conduct deeper profiling alongside the Departments of Education and Health, its social workers, and child and family psychology experts.

"We feel the literacy level is low. Secondly, obviously social workers saw the lack of health interventions, malnutrition is high. Thirdly, obviously there are psychosocial issues that should be addressed.Mababa yung literacy level, yun ang feeling namin," he said.

Gatchalian said members who spoke with their social workers have this "general sense of contentment" with their lives despite the lack of basic services.

"This will take some time, but we're working with the necessary psychology experts. Because the children aren't the only victims here, it's the family. There are parents who believe what is happening to their children is normal — which it is not," he explained.

The Department of Justice earlier said members of SBSI are facing complaints for the reported abuse of over a thousand children.

SBSI members and officials lamented allegations that the group is a cult and denied any abuses.