P5M for street dwellers remains unused

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council questioned why the City Government’s P5-million allocation for street dwellers has remained unused.

In last Wednesday’s executive session, City Councilor Margarita “Margot” Osmeña asked why the fund was not used. The money is supposed to be used to rid the city’s streets of night dwellers and to help give them a better life.

Osmeña also raised questions on the fact that it is the Squatters Prevention, Elimination and Encroachment Division (Speed) that is implementing the rescue of families and individuals on streets.

She said this would mean that the City’s Task Force on Street Dwellers, which was created by Mayor Michael Rama through an executive order last year, is not functioning.

Speed chief Noel Artes, who appeared before the body, admitted that they are the one’s rounding up the night dwellers on the city’s streets considering that the task force has not met yet.

The Cebu City Task Force on Street Dwellers (CCTFSD) was created by Rama in December last year. The mayor chairs the task force while Rene Mercado sits as the vice chairman.

The members of the task force include City Administrator Jose Marie Poblete and Councilors Osmeña, Rodrigo Abellanosa and Lea Japson.

The Cebu City Police Office, DSWS, City Health Department, City Treasurer’s Office, Speed, the Anti-Mendicancy Group and the Cebu City Task Force on Street Children are also represented in the body.

As for the budget for the street dwellers, Osmeña asked Artes why the fund has not been used. But Artes could not give any answer.

With this, Osmeña moved for another executive session to invite Mercado to shed light on the matter. — (FREEMAN)