Dinky admits 'family camping' part of preps for papal visit

MANILA, Philippines - Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon "Dinky" Soliman admitted during a Senate hearing on Tuesday that sending street dwellers to a resort in Nasugbu, Batangas was part of the government's preparations for the visit of Pope Francis.

"Hindi po namin pinagkakaila na bahagi 'yon ng effort ng lokal na pamahalaan," Soliman said.

The DSWD chief maintained that the "family camping workshop" was part of the agency's modified conditional cash transfer (MCCT) program and they used the Papal visit as an opportunity to send homeless families to the said camping.

According to Soliman, the family camping was the government's way of showing street children, beggars and homeless families that the government cares for them.

READ: DSWD chief: Resort stay is ‘family camping’ for poor

Soliman explained that the families might be exploited and discriminated during the five-day visit of the Pope.

It was also part of the DSWD's program to keep Roxas Boulevard safe, according to Soliman.

She added that it was not the first time that homeless families were sent to out-of-town trips as part of the government's MCCT program.

During the six-day stay of the families at the resort in Batangas, various activities such as basic literacy, vocational training and sports clinic were held.

The DSWD received criticisms for "hiding" street children and homeless families from Pope Francis.

Meanwhile, the Palace earlier backed Congress' proposal to investigate the DSWD's use of conditional cash transfer funds for the said family camp.

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