Manila starts crackdown on vagrants

MANILA, Philippines - A crackdown has been launched on vagrants sleeping in local public parks and the Manila Baywalk area to keep public places safe for the people.

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim said he recently met with officials of the Manila Police District (MPD) and ordered police officers to ban vagrants or “street people” who have turned public parks and the Baywalk as their sleeping areas.

He said the city government had revived the campaign against vagrancy in order to attract people to visit parks and public establishments, particularly the Manila Baywalk where people can watch the Manila Bay sunset.

“These street people will be prohibited because their present damper the enthusiasm of people in going to the parks. The parks were created for everyone’s enjoyment,” Lim said.

City officials said vagrants taken into custody by members of the Manila City Hall’s Department of Public Services have been advised to return to their respective provinces and the city government would shoulder the transportation expenses.

Lim said many of the vagrants leave their provinces because they believe there are jobs in Manila, but they end up living in parks when they fail to find employment.

Lim had also asked National Parks Development Committee executive director Juliet Villegas to make improvements in Plaza San Lorenzo Ruiz in Binondo, Manila.

He said Villegas made a commitment to make improvements in the public square.