QUEZON CITY -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) encourages the public to continue to adhere to health and safety protocols in agreement with the pronouncement of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and local government units (LGUs) to allow Christmas caroling of minors and adults.

The DSWD also emphasized that children while engaged in caroling should be supervised by their parents or guardians to ensure that they follow the minimum health and safety protocols or guidelines  set by the authorities in accordance with the alert level status of their locality.

To ensure a safe Christmas experience for the children, the Department also encourages the public to organize gift-giving activities  or medical missions at activity centers, in coordination with LGUs and other appropriate authorities to ensure compliance to minimum safety protocols. The public may also donate to DSWD centers and other organizations that help street kids or may conduct charity drives.

The DSWD would also like to appeal to LGUs to include in their guidelines that caroling should be strictly conducted in safe areas within their barangays or communities and not along roads and main thoroughfares. (DSWD)