The Lapu-Lapu City Social Welfare and Development Office has already reached out to the mother of the two children rescued from a treehouse in Barangay Agus. However, the mother is uncertain reportedly of coming home to Cebu because of her current job in Manila.
Junard Abalos, CSWDO officer in charge, however said that the father has been allowed to visit the children at a homecare facility in Barangay Gun-ob. The children are being cared for by house parents.
As of this writing, Abalos said the children are receiving medicine to cure common colds before they could be dewormed. He said that the children have exhibited symptoms of the presence of intestinal worms.
“Among nakita nga duna silay symptoms nga gibitok pero kinahanglan maayo una ang ilang sip-on before sila ma-deworm,” Abalos explained.
Relatives who have expressed intention to keep the children, such as grandparents, will still be assessed on their capacity to nurture the two boys.
The two boys in Sitio Gisî, Barangay Agus reported to be staying in a treehouse were rescued by personnel of CSWDO in the afternoon of January 30, 2024.
The children, ages four years old and two years old, are siblings who are left almost everyday to stay at the treehouse while their father is away reportedly for work.
Neighbors would give the boys food from time to time until the father comes home.
The four-year-old boy, in an interview during the rescue, said he takes care of his younger brother by making sure he eats. When asked which food he has for his brother, he answered quickly that he feeds him rice. However, concerned citizens who find the situation inappropriate for the youngsters reported the concern to the barangay.
The treehouse is mounted on a “dakit” (ficus tree or banyan tree). The makeshift house does not have a sturdy roof, while its steep stair poses danger of falls as well as its rickety floor.
The children's parents are allegedly not in good terms. The mother sought work at the nation's capital as the father does not reportedly have a permanent job yet.
