MANILA XINHUA - Philippine President Fidel Ramos set in motion here today an innovative campaign to rid Metro Manila of street children by the year 2000.

The president approved the release of 8 million pesos ($305,343 U.S. dollars) to provide street children with proper education, livelihood opportunities and capability building assistance.

The task will be implemented and coordinated by the Special Unit for Street Children the president created last month in the Department of Social Welfare.

The campaign, called "Zero Street Children for Philippines 2000", targets 5,131 street kids and their families, and will involve not only government agencies but non-government organizations as well.