Cohabitation among minors and minors with adults and teenage pregnancies are the main problems at the Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc. in Surigao del Norte, Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian said Thursday.
There were 21 cases of cohabitation recorded in the group, which included three male minors with adult women, two minors, and 16 adult males with minors.
Gatchalian admitted it will not be easy to change the mindset of the alleged cult members.
“We need to break their concept. All of them were victims. This will take time to reverse their mindset. As we don’t want to displace these families, right to education, health care and social welfare,” he said.
Gatchalian flew Thursday to Surigao del Norte to map out a plan to gradually bring back basic government services to members of the Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc.
He said the goal is to reach out and assist some 3,000 residents in Sitio Kapihan, about 1,000 of whom are children isolated from society.