DSWD shuts down orphanage

MANILA — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has ordered a private orphanage to stop operations following reports that the orphanage violated Republic Act 7610, the law on child abuse.

The DSWD issued a cease and desist order on Monday against Gentle Hands Inc. (GHI) to “protect orphaned children from imminent danger,” DSWD spokesman Assistant Secretary Romel Lopez said yesterday.

The DSWD received a report that GHI, located on F. Castillo street in Project 4, Quezon City, failed to comply with the minimum standards for residential facilities for children, Lopez said.

In a press briefing, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said that he and some social workers went to GHI on May 20 to personally validate the complaints and confirmed that the orphanage had several violations.

The orphans were attended to by household helpers when the facility is required under the law to have social workers look after the children, Lopez said.

Gatchalian said GHI’s “upkeep was not ideal as garbage was all over the place.”

“Ventilation was an issue as they overcapacitated the orphanage. It’s a privately run orphanage. It’s for 80, but they are running at 149 to be exact,” he added.

Gatchalian said the “worst part” was that the fire exits “were sealed or had grills.”

He noted that while the DSWD team had difficulty being allowed into the orphanage, “an unsupervised Caucasian male just walked out of the facility.”

Gatchalian refused to speculate on the Caucasian male’s purpose in visiting the orphanage.

GHI is a duly registered and licensed social welfare and development agency of the DSWD with License No. DSWD-SB-L-000052-2021 issued on Aug. 12, 2021 and valid until Aug. 13, 2024.