Bu-lat-lat (boo-lat-lat) verb: to search, probe, investigate, inquire; to unearth facts

Issue No. 23                        July 22-28,  2001                    Quezon City, Philippines

Children and the State of the Nation

Among the multitudes who marched to Edsa Shrine in the four-day people’s uprising which toppled Joseph Estrada from power last January were young students and children, fired by an enthusiasm to make their voice heard in a nation misruled by elder politicians. In the nation’s political history, children have remained mere props of governments to symbolize their concern for the youth – especially the poor. Ironically, children have remained innocent victims of social inequities and mispriorities – mention, for instance, the recent urban poor demolitions despite President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s moratorium policy. In her first State-of-the-Nation Address on Monday, Arroyo should know where she’s speaking from as far as the state of the country’s children is concerned: she once headed the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) under Estrada.

By Danilo Araña Arao
Bulatlat.com

What future can children expect in the current situation that is marked by crisis and government neglect? When President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo delivers her State of the Nation Address (SONA) this Monday, she should well bear in mind the situation of children in the country.

No less than the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) admits that the Philippines is among the top 10 countries with malnourished children aged below five years.

Eight out of every 10 Filipino children are also underweight, based on the 1998 nationwide survey of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI). There are also 10 in every 100 children aged six months to six years who are deficient in Vitamin A, a necessary input to prevent night-blindness and corneal defects.

The same agency also stressed that 10 million children are in danger of dying of preventable diseases like pneumonia, diarrhea, measles, meningitis, influenza, dengue fever, chicken pox, mumps, tuberculosis and bronchitis.

Other statistics are both distressing and alarming. The Department of Health (DOH) reveals that children aged five years and below account for about one-fifth of total recorded deaths every year.

The National Statistics Office (NSO) admits that one of every five Filipino children had no early education. Only 15 percent of children aged 3 to 5 years old are attending some early childhood program in pre-school, nursery and daycare centers.

Education

As regards basic education (i.e., elementary and high school), only 77 percent (17.3 million) of the 22.5-million school-aged children (5 to 17 years old) were reportedly enrolled in schoolyear 1999-2000. This simply means that about 5.0 million Filipino children failed to go to school at that time.

But the rate of completion of primary education is only 69 percent as of the same schoolyear. This means that for every 100 students who enter Grade 1, only 69 were able to finish Grade 6.

It is in this context that one must view the government's claim that 97 percent of the population have access to elementary education. A substantial majority of children may be able to avail of elementary education, but a sizeable number is still unable to graduate.

In a January 1999 survey, the National Statistics Office (NSO) showed that about 800,000 minors aged 10 to 14 years old were part of the country's labor force. Young workers (5 to 17 years old) were pegged at 3.7 million. In 1995, the total estimate of young workers was 3.5 million.

A child labor project officer of the Bureau of Women and Young Workers (BWYW) admits that "the economic recession...has pushed children to skip their studies and help their families augment their income. Children started competing with the adults in non-skilled jobs. And because they are willing to support their families and are ignorant of their rights, management prefers them."

To make matters worse, children are even pushed to a life of crime, according to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Arroyo was once DSWD secretary.

Ruel Lucentales, DSWD Southern Mindanao director, was quoted by the media as saying that "the more the economic situation sinks and the higher basic commodity prices rise, the greater the number of cases of juvenile delinquency." He admits that many children were actually caught stealing food.

The number of cases of children in conflict with the law January to September 2000 was pegged at 589, a 6.3 percent increase from 554 cases during the same period in 1999.

Poverty

Both the government and the UN admit that poverty and the rising cost of education are considered major factors for children being out of school, and forcing them to abandon their childhood even at such an early age.

Of course, these statistics are just the tip of the iceberg in analyzing the situation of Filipino children. But these indicators can already help in giving us an overview of the plight of children in general and the extent of neglect (others say abandonment) that they have been receiving.

CCP’s working children

The Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) is not just home to the country’s major concerts, art exhibits and trade fairs. It is also home to about 147 families who are forced to eke out a living on the wide parking lots along the river bank.

Passersby may have become familiar with the sight of children and adults renting out bicycles and selling various food and drinks. A close scrutiny of the stalls there, however, would show that these families do not just conduct their business there. They actually live there.

Rental of bicycles range from P20 (US$0.39) to P40 ($0.78) per hour, depending on the size and quality of the bicycle. Based on a study by Salinlahi, families normally earn P941.56 ($18.46) weekly, or P188.31 daily ($3.69).

This income, however, could still be compromised by unscrupulous guards and police officers in the area.

Children interviewed by Bulatlat.com said these characters extort P50 ($0.98) to P100 ($1.96) from vendors and bike rental outlets so that they can continue with their business. The CCP residents are forced to give in since aware that what they are doing is “illegal.”

While children also realize that their business of vending and renting out bicycles is illegal, they argue that they have no choice. If they would stop from eking out a living, they would all go hungry and die. This is the reason why children as young as seven years old are seen working as vendors.

The younger ones, on the other hand, opt to beg even without their parents’ permission, apparently realizing the hardships of their family and the need to augment their meager income. One of them was hit by a truck along the national highway as he was begging. Fortunately, the child survived.

Violence

The children here have been used to being subjected to physical and verbal abuse by police officers and security guards. One even relates that he has been struck by a security guard on the back of his head several times. He has learned, however, to assert himself and not just meekly walk away from the bullying tactics of these characters.

Other children have also learned to argue with authorities whenever the latter would get food and drinks without paying. At times, the authorities would also try to confiscate their wares, especially their bicycles. Children there relate that these authorities would extort more money from them to return what is rightfully theirs in the first place.

The confiscated wares would normally cost P100 ($1.96) , while the bicycles would be returned in exchange for P200 ($3.92). Given that these are “under the table” negotiations, authorities do not issue receipts or any form of citation. Everything is done verbally, according to the children.

Aside from these, children have become used to running away from the authorities and arguing with them when necessary. Survival, after all, rests on their ability to elude those who would wish to partake of their hard-earned income.

Indeed, the situation of children can never be isolated form the overall national situation. Obviously, one cannot expect a better quality of life for children if there is no subsequent change in the prevailing social context. Bulatlat.com

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