Cebu City government to ‘rescue’ beggars ahead of APEC

CEBU, Philippines- The Cebu City government will conduct a massive rescue operation of mendicants and night dwellers ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings in Cebu.

Jocelyn Pesquera, chairperson of the Cebu City Anti-Mendicancy Board, said the operation will be done in the evening of August 14. The activity is in line with the observance of the Anti-Mendicancy Month.

Pesquera said that rescued mendicants and night dwellers will be temporarily housed in Barangay San Roque Gym.

“(The massive rescue operation) is not because of APEC. Regular ni namo. And this month is anti-mendicancy month,” she said.

APEC meetings are scheduled from August 22 to September 11. The meetings include senior officials meeting, finance, and structural reforms ministerial meetings and others wherein over 3,000 international delegates are expected to come over to Cebu.

The international delegates will be back on October 8 to October 14 for the transportation and energy ministerial meetings. The venues of the meetings include the Radisson Blu Hotel and Marco Polo Plaza in Cebu City, and Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort and Spa in Lapu-Lapu City.

Pesquera said her office and the city’s Department of Social Welfare and Services will assess and profile the mendicants.

“Atong i-check kay naay uban that have houses. Anha lang sa dalan kay maghulat sa basura. Naay uban nga paabot sa ilang trabaho. It’s not really nga tanan naa sa dalan way balay,” she said, adding that her office will provide intervention so that these mendicants and night dwellers will not return to the streets again.

For those with no houses, she said they could avail of the city’s “Balik Probinsiya” program in which the city will give financial assistance to bring them back to their real residence.

Pesquera said these mendicants can also be accommodated in the corresponding facilities where they belong like “Gasa sa Gugma” center for the elderly and community scouts for the minors.

“We will continue with our rescue works sa ka-dalanan. We have facilities na ma-utilize. Apil ang night dwellers. Everyday ang operation,” she said.

She, however, admitted that the city could not be mendicant-free.

“Di ta kaingon nga 100 percent. Kay ila gamiton ang freedom of abode. They also have human rights,” she added.

She said that the city is rescuing them not because they are an eyesore but merely because they are not supposed to stay in the streets.

Pesquera claimed that the number of mendicants in the city is decreasing. She said she started in the board as chairman in 2013 with over 400 mendicants, adding that only 200 mendicants are recorded this year.

“Number one is gi-rescue and atong giawhag nga di puwede sa kadalanan and then with partnership sa DSWD (Department od Social Welfare and Development) atong ipa-enrol sa 4Ps (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program), before ang (naa) ray balay ang apil but karon they have another program similar sa 4Ps nga if mendicants apil na,” she said.

Also yesterday, Pesquera announced the cash-for-work program and the Adopt-a-Family program with the help of DSWD. These programs are applicable to all rescued mendicants, including those who were from the other provinces.

Pesquera said the program which was implemented by DSWD in November 2013 will now take part of the city’s effort in preventing these people from staying in the streets. The program also provides jobs to mendicants and street dwellers.

She said their job is to keep an eye on people who throw garbage anywhere as well as to stop anyone who will try to beg and stay on the streets. They will also be given a salary so they can earn money and can sustain their needs such as food, clothing and shelter.

The Adopt-a-Family program is also aimed at helping families of these mendicants by supporting one member of the family through financial assistance for their education.

The city is also giving them Rental Subsidy that is good for six months.

“In cooperation with the DSWD, we suggest to include to their policies and make it as one requirement for these beneficiaries to abide with all laws and ordinances in the city,” she added.

She said that CCAMB also partners with different non-government organizations in providing these people home, food, medical assistance and education.

Isabellita Ganub, executive director of CCAMB, said the meager budget of P175,000 for the year will not stop them from doing their job. — Jean Marvette A. Demecillo and Charlyne J. Calisang /FPL