MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Francis Escudero called on the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) yesterday to do what is right and help the street dwellers its personnel rounded up for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit even after the event.
“Now, there is an opportunity for the DSWD to do what is right if only to show that it’s sincere in helping the poor even beyond APEC. This will also dispel the notion there is an unwritten government policy to clear the streets of homeless people whenever VIPs visit the country,” he said.
It was reported that hundreds of street dwellers living along Roxas Boulevard and nearby areas were placed in a Manila city government facility days ahead of the APEC events as part of the security preparations for the arrival of world leaders and delegates.
The DWSD has denied this but television reports showed some of the street dwellers in the Boys Town Complex claiming that they were being held against their will.
Each of the families were reportedly given P4,000 to cover their temporary shelter during the APEC events.
The DSWD clarified that the financial aid was part of its conditional cash transfer program, the agency’s flagship anti-poverty scheme.
The DSWD was criticized for doing something similar during the visit of Pope Francis to the Philippines last January.
During the preparations for the Pope’s visit, the DSWD was also accused of rounding up street dwellers and sending them off to a resort for a “seminar.”
The DSWD, on the other hand, said the families who were sent to Boys Town will dispel allegations that they are being held against their will.
Social workers from the agency and the Manila city government gathered the families to interview and assess them to determine what they need, the DSWD said.
Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada vowed to give the 206 street dwellers housing and livelihood.