DSWD Steps In After One Year Old Found Alone on Busy Bohol Highway

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.

Photo Credit: Manila Bulletin

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.

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.