On hiding the homeless

Dear Mr. Avila,

We would like to clarify the issue you raised in your column entitled, “Shooting Straight” published in the Opinion page of Philippine STAR on Feb. 5.

In your column, you wrote that “It is high time that we inform the DSWD Secretary that until now, she has not explained herself fully before the Filipino people regarding the issue of rounding up some 500 street children and homeless families from the streets of Metro  Manila” during the Papal visit.

We would like to emphasize that we did not hide the street children and homeless families during the Papal visit on Jan.  15-19. There are approximately 11,000 street families in Metro Manila so how can we hide them?

The government cannot hide the poor, but it can work to respond to their needs, which is the objective of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

When the Pope landed in Villamor Airbase, one of the first things he saw were shanties in the surrounding areas. Further, he specifically requested to dine with the 30 poorest families in Tacloban City which was ravaged by Typhoon Yolanda. Clearly, his heart is with the poor, so why would the government even attempt to “hide the poor” as stated in your column.

Likewise, we did not “hide” the street children since some 400 street children as well as children from various centers of the DSWD were seen by the Pope during his send off on January 19. These children were part of the choir that performed during the farewell ceremony for the Pope.

Moreover, the family camp held in Nasugbu, Batangas was not meant to “hide” the street families.

It is part of the initial orientation of potential beneficiaries of the Modified Conditional Cash Transfer for Homeless Street Families (MCCT-HSF) to assess their eligibility for the program. This is also designed towards the physical and psycho-social development of street children and their families. Basic literacy, character building, vocational skills, life skills, medical services and sports clinic were among the camp activities.

The DSWD has been implementing the MCCT-HSF program since 2012. It provides a complete package of assistance to street families, including responsive shelter programs, with access to social services, and economic opportunities for the improvement of their living conditions.

From then on, the rapid assessment, orientation, and registration activities of street families under the program had been done regularly.

The family camp was then held during the Papal visit to protect the street dwellers from further exposure to hazards, risks, abuse and exploitation by providing them appropriate intervention and a safer place to stay.

The MCCT-HSF, which has been implemented since 2012, seeks to improve the living conditions of its beneficiaries through a response shelter program, access to social services, and economic opportunities. Since 2012: some 2,479 families have been registered and served by the MCCT -HSF in Metro Manila.

Of this number, 726 are no longer living on the streets. They now earn sufficient amounts to be able to rent rooms or apartments, 434 have since returned to the street after 6 months of their enlistment into the program.

DSWD continues to provide support to the 100 families that joined the Batangas activity. Of the group, 71 families will have rooms or apartments rented for them by the DSWD by Feb. 7. Their children are being enrolled in the Department of Education’s alternative learning system. One member of each family will be earning Cash for Work for a period of 10 days. Discussion are being carried out on the nature and alternative means of livelihood.

So the camping event was not designed to hide our poor brothers and sisters from the public’s view. Rather it is part of an intervention that we as a department have taken to respond to the vulnerable situation in which street families find themselves.

Thank  you  and  we hope  that  our  clarification  will also be  mentioned  in your column. — CORAZON JULIANO-SOLIMAN, Secretary, Department of Social Welfare and Development