Heartbreaking sight

I was reading the letter from Dr. Pamela Claveria of Parañaque City on being an animal lover, saving cats and presumably all other types of animals (“Be responsible pet owners,” 11/15/18).

I, on the other hand, become helpless and sad when I see young children, most probably as young as 3 years old, running wildly on our streets, playing with vehicular traffic. Some ask for money from passing car owners or jeepney passengers. Some appear to be young mothers or older siblings. The sight is simply heartbreaking.

As the holiday season approaches, we will see more of this sight. What is the Department of Social Welfare and Development doing?

It should have programs for street children. There should be something we ordinary citizens can do when encountering these children wandering the streets and begging, such as a DSWD hotline we can call. The government should start interfering in these cases.

What kind of country have we become when we do not care for our children?

JOSE SANTAMARIA,
j_e_santamaria@hotmail.com