Shocking Highway Rescue Prompts DSWD Action After Baby Is Abandoned
DSWD – The Department of Social Welfare and Development moved quickly after a one-year-old child was found alone along a busy highway in Bohol.
A disturbing incident along a major highway in Bohol has prompted swift intervention from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) after a one-year-old child was found abandoned on the roadside, sparking public outrage and concern over child safety.
A heart-stopping scene along a Bohol highway on Tuesday, January 27, 2026, has led to a Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) intervention after a one-year-old toddler was found abandoned on the roadside. The incident, which occurred in Barangay Tabalong, Dauis, reportedly stemmed from a domestic dispute where the mother used the child as a “bargaining chip” to capture her partner’s attention.
Motorists traveling along the Tabalong highway were alarmed when they noticed the infant crawling and occasionally sitting alone on the shoulder of the busy national road. Dashcam footage of the incident quickly went viral, showing the vulnerability of the infant amidst passing vehicles. Concerned citizens immediately stopped to protect the child and alerted the Dauis Municipal Police Station.
Investigations by the Dauis PNP revealed a troubling motive behind the abandonment. According to Police reports, the minor mother was deeply upset that her live-in partner chose to report for work instead of staying home to celebrate their child’s first birthday, which coincided with the day of the incident. In an emotional outburst, she allegedly left the baby on the highway shoulder, hoping the father would abandon his work shift to attend to the “emergency.”
Following the rescue, the DSWD and local social workers immediately took jurisdiction over the case. The DSWD has placed the infant under the temporary custody of the paternal grandfather while a psychological assessment is conducted. As of Wednesday morning, the child has been placed in the temporary custody of her paternal grandfather.
Social workers are currently conducting a comprehensive psychosocial assessment of the minor mother and the household environment to determine if the child can safely return to the parental home or if a more permanent alternative care arrangement is required. Authorities are currently evaluating possible child maltreatment charges against the mother for endangering the minor’s life on a busy highway.
Undersecretary Atty. Claire Castro, representing the Palace’s stance on child welfare, emphasized that the government maintains a zero-tolerance policy for child endangerment. “No domestic conflict justifies putting a minor’s life in peril,” officials stated, adding that the Dauis PNP is currently studying the filing of charges under Republic Act 7610, or the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation, and Discrimination Act.
While the child is reported to be in good physical health, the DSWD continues its monitoring to ensure that the “birthday” that started in a near-tragedy does not leave lasting scars on the infant’s welfare.
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