The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has extended assistance to the parents of a 1-year-old child who was abducted on 10 December in Barangay San Bartolome, Quezon City, and later recovered safely in Navotas City.

DSWD said the family, which had been living and begging on the streets since September after the father lost his job as a construction worker, has been assisted under the Pag-abot Program and is undergoing further assessment for possible livelihood or employment support.

Social workers visited the parents and their child in Barangay Fortune, Marikina City, where the family temporarily relocated to the residence of the mother of the female partner following the child’s recovery. Initial assessment confirmed that the family had been sleeping and begging in the San Bartolome area for about four months.

The couple clarified that the child was intentionally taken and denied claims by the suspect that the child was received in exchange for food.

The child was reunited with the parents on December 16 after concerned citizens coordinated with authorities upon recognizing the child from a social media post. Police investigation led to the arrest of a 20-year-old suspect, who admitted to using the child for begging.

“Abducting a child is a grave and unacceptable act, and the Department strongly condemns any form of exploitation of children. We remind all parents and guardians to be vigilant and never entrust their children to strangers under any circumstance,” DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said on Monday, 22 December.

Following the child’s safe return, the Pag-abot team evaluated the family and confirmed that they qualify under the homeless or street-dwelling category of the program.

DSWD said a second round of assessment will be conducted to determine appropriate interventions, including possible livelihood assistance or employment facilitation, particularly given the father’s background in construction work.

“The Department of Social Welfare and Development stands ready to provide the necessary support to ensure that this family does not return to the streets and is given a fair opportunity to rebuild stability and security,” Dumlao said.

The Pag-abot Program is among the government’s flagship initiatives under Executive Order No. 52, which institutionalized the program as a unified platform for delivering services and social protection to vulnerable and disadvantaged children, individuals, and families in street situations.