Caloocan project to benefit street dwellers

The Caloocan City government is embarking on an ambitious project that aims to cleanse the city of informal street dwellers by reintegrating them into mainstream society in order to become productive members of the community.

Mayor Enrico "Recom" Echiverri has ordered an intensified campaign to get informal dwellers off the streets, saying their presence in public places breed crimes, creates traffic hazards, endangers their own health and exposes them to further indignities and degradation.

The mayor said Executive Order 032-05, which created Task Force Sagip Kalinga, mandates the formulation of plans, programs, policies, and guidelines for a sustained, intensive and collaborative undertaking for the benefit of street dwellers.

The mayor heads Task Force Kalinga with City Administrator Romeo Alcantara as vice chairman, and Secretary to the Mayor Russel Ramirez as overall coordinator.

Echiverri tasked the City Social Welfare Department, headed by officer-in-charge Jimmy Castro, to scan and profile the population of informal street dwellers in the city; develop programs and projects for their rehabilitation and reintegration to society; operate and manage staging or processing centers for rescued dwellers, and to lead in the actual conduct of rescue operations.

He also directed the CSWD to conduct interview assessments and the necessary referral cases; document cases and experiences for police program improvement; provide basic and after care services to rescued individuals and follow-up progress of clients referred and served in various facilities.

The city police under Senior Superintendent Geronimo Reside, the Reformed Department of Public Safety and Traffic Management headed by Alfonso Sta. Maria, the City Health Department led by Dr. Raquel So-Sayo, and the Liga ng mga Barangay under Councilor Ricojudge Echiverri, were tasked to assist the CSDW in the implementation of the program.

The mayor also instructed barangay officials to conduct surveillance in their respective areas, monitor street dwellers and assist in the conduct of rescue operations.

Echiverri said that the unchecked number of vagrants, mendicants, beggars, street children under the influence of illegal substances as well as people taking refuge in the streets, parks, mall premises, and other public areas turning them into their shelter or source of livelihood, must be looked into and addressed by the local government.