Poverty and Family Abuse Force Davao’s Children to the Streets

By CARLOS H. CONDE
Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism
Published: December 2002

Second of two parts

DAVAO CITY — In 2000 and 2001, Davao City was adjudged the country’s “Most Child-Friendly City” by the National Council for the Welfare of Children, a government body under the Office of the President.

This year, however, Davao failed to get the recognition because of what local officials here have dismissed as negative noises coming from child-rights groups.

The NGOs retort that they had found it ironic that a city that tolerates the killing of minors as part of a brutal campaign against crime would be considered “child-friendly” at all.

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