Street dwellers get TESDA training –Erap

MANILA, Philippines - Street dwellers who were rounded up in Manila during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit were given livelihood training by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Mayor Joseph Estrada said yesterday.

Estrada said the street dwellers were temporarily taken to the Jose Fabella Center in Mandaluyong and Boys Town complex in Marikina, a facility maintained and operated by the city government of Manila.

“They were given skills and livelihood training by TESDA instructors. They were fed three times a day,” he said.

Estrada said those from the provinces were given money for their fares.

He said the city government is looking for a lot where a housing program for street dwellers will be built.

Earlier, more than 140 homeless families were “rescued” in Manila ahead of the APEC summit.

The rescue activities were conducted in coordination with the Manila Police District and the city’s barangay bureau.

Officials of the Department of Social Welfare and Development had denied hiding the homeless from the APEC visitors and insisted that rescue operations are conducted regularly by the DSWD.