Davao City – June 19, 2025 — In a renewed push to safeguard children from abuse and street exploitation, the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), in partnership with the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) and other agencies, re-launched on Wednesday the Kean Gabriel Hotline and the city’s Anti-Mendicancy campaign.
The initiatives aim to intensify public awareness and community involvement through mobile patrol broadcasts and expanded information drives, targeting both abuse prevention and the reduction of child mendicancy.
According to CSWDO Child and Youth Welfare Division Chief Gilda Dela Gente-Salvaña, the renewed campaign includes playing the Kean Gabriel jingle and anti-mendicancy materials via DCPO mobile patrol units to reach a wider audience in various barangays.
“As long as cases of abuse continue to be recorded, we must sustain and strengthen our efforts to prevent them,” Salvaña said in an interview with Madayaw Davao. “We need the public to care. All sectors in Davao City must be aware of where and how to report possible or potential child abuse.”
Salvaña emphasized that the Kean Gabriel Hotline, which allows the public to report child abuse cases quickly, is a vital tool in mobilizing swift responses, especially from communities at the grassroots level. The hotline was originally launched as a response mechanism for abuse reports and has since been a critical part of the city’s child protection strategy.
She also noted that street educators continue to monitor known areas where children are often seen begging or loitering, in efforts to remove them from dangerous street environments.
Supporting the campaign, PLTCOL Jed Clamor, DCPO Deputy Director for Administration, underscored the importance of their collaboration with CSWDO. “CSWDO has limitations in terms of manpower and resources. The DCPO provides the muscle, the mobility, and the presence to complement their efforts,” Clamor said.
He added that daily mobile patrols playing educational audio materials will help Dabawenyos—especially residents and commuters—remember essential information and encourage them to take action when they witness abuse or mendicancy.
Through this partnership, both the CSWDO and DCPO hope to create a stronger, faster, and more community-centered approach to protecting the city’s most vulnerable, particularly children at risk on the streets.