KIDS VOW TO 'SQUEAL' FOR A CAUSE

Children in Bara-ngay Carreta, Cebu City agreed to report to bara-ngay
officials the names of adults who are using minors in the drug trade
and those who own drug dens in their community.

The suggestion was made by Hariet Burgos, 14, a member of the Young
Achievers' Children's Association (Yaca) and Jephte Paca, 14, Yaca
president, during a press conference on "Children's Participation in
Governance" at the Cebu City Health auditorium yesterday.

Julie Ann Delima, 15, another Yaca member, also revealed during the
gathering that her neighbors, some as young as she is, already act as
"runners" of adults and, worse, even their parents who are into drugs.

The children, during sitio consultations, also raised the presence of
video carrera and rugby users in the area as the barangay's problems.

Carreta Barangay Captain Marciano Ando, in reaction, admitted that
going after drug pushers is not easy. He submitted, though, a list of
the names of these personalities to the Philippine Drug Enforcement
Agency (PDEA) and Councilor Sylvan Jakosalem, chairman of the
committee on dangerous drugs. Parental guidance

During his one year in office, a total of 58 video carrera units were
confiscated and destroyed, he reported.

He also said they stopped two "suppliers" from selling rugby to
children.

PO1 Leoncio Canoy of the Waterfront Police Station said Ando
frequently brings suspected snatchers and rugby users to the precinct.

Canoy also made an appeal to the parents to strictly "monitor" their
children.

Although the children suggested the implementation of the curfew
ordinance to minimize peace and order problems, Ando said they are
wary of enforcing it for fear of being questioned by human rights advocates.

However, he is proposing that if a minor has been "rescued" from the
streets three times already, the child's parents should be asked to do
community work, like cleaning the streets or the barangay hall.

Some 260 participants, aged nine to 17, gathered for yesterday's
children's summit, organized by the barangay council and Yaca of
Nazareth Children's Center.

Ando and Barangay Councilors Rudy Pacana, Leonor Hortelano and Tony
Conahap were also present.

Speaking out

The children appealed to their leaders to address the garbage and
flooding problem, as well help the children who are sick, abused, or
those who have not gone to school.

"Even if they are still minors, these children already know how to
snatch, steal or play with the video carrera because, for me, they
lack guidance from their parents, love and understanding," Burgos said
in her "situationer" report.

Sangguniang Kabataan chairperson Rona Mae Onde, for her part, said
that since many problems were identified, there is a need to determine
which concerns should be addressed first.

Edgar Cuadero, action officer of the Barangay Council for the
Protection of Children, said they will help meet the children's needs
by allowing the sector's representatives to sit in the committees
under the council.

Carreta's BCPC has committees on health and sanitation, education,
family life enrichment and recreation, children's justice and another
one especially for children in need of special protection.