THE DEPARTMENT of Social Welfare and Development has urged parents to keep children from caroling on streets due to safety concerns.

The agency encouraged parents to advised their children to limit caroling to neighborhoods or communities, or preferably avoid it altogether, to protect children from accidents and exploitation.

DSWD noted that street caroling contributes to mendicancy, a systemic issue.

Meanwhile, the DSWD said in Cebu City, the local government has launched Stop Mendicancy campaign to discourage the public from giving alms to mendicants, including children who beg or carol on busy streets.

The campaign aims to prevent situations where children are exposed to hazardous environments, such as public roads, parks and bridges.

The campaign draws its authority from City Ordinance 1631, enacted in 1996, which supports Presidential Decree 1563, or the Anti-Mendicancy Law of 1978.

The ordinance empowers local authorities to hold parents accountable if their children are found begging or caroling on public roads.