By Villamor Visaya Jr.
TUGUEGARAO CITY-Social workers on Thursday have been looking for a guardian who will take care of a newborn baby girl, four days after she was abandoned at the roadside in Lower Ipil, Tabuk City, Kalinga at 5:45 in the morning on September 14, the Kalinga provincial social welfare office said.
Police reports said the baby girl, wrapped in a rag with still an intact placenta, was discovered by passersby, van driver Lui Domingo and his passenger, a certain Carol.
They brought the infant to Sheryl Domingo, officer-in-charge of the Tabuk Refuge for Abuse Women, who assisted in transporting the infant to Holy Trinity Clinic for initial medical assessment and later to the Kalinga Provincial Hospital for further medical evaluation and care.
The discovery was then reported to the Tabuk City police station through Esstefania Baglinit, Tabuk City social welfare officer.
Baglinit, in a statement, said they have been working together with local authorities and child welfare agencies “to determine guardianship in a way that protects the child’s health, safety, and rights.”
“Legitimate guardianship will be established in accordance with established legal and child welfare procedures,” she added.
Individuals or families seeking guardianship must contact official channels to verify eligibility and initiate the proper process, she said.
The baby girl was placed under medical supervision of the child welfare services of the Provincial Social Welfare Development Office under Rose Maritess Oyawon.
Mayor Darwin Estrañero, after learning of the discovered infant girl, said that “the child’s welfare remains the top priority” and commended community members “for acting quickly and responsibly to ensure the infant’s safety.” #
A social worker takes care of a newborn baby girl found abandoned at the roadside in Tabuk City on September 14. (Tabuk CIO)
