CEBU, Philippines – An agreement between the Cebu City government and the Department of Social Welfare and Development is seen to provide a long term program for street dwellers and indigenous individuals in the city.
DSWD-7 has earmarked over P3.6 million to support the poverty alleviation project by providing appropriate services and programs for the abandoned children and homeless families living along the streets.
The budget will be utilized to sustain the "Comprehensive Program for Street Children, Street Families and Indigenous People."
Sustaining its program on street dwellers is among the difficulties faced by the city government because most of them return to the streets after every rescue operations.
The city government through the Department of Social Welfare and Services will conduct reach-out operations on street dwellers following the established code of procedure as well as provide necessary assessments and interventions for those rescued.
Stipulated in the agreement which was already endorsed by the City Legal Office to the City Council is for the government to provide proper facilities for rescued individuals.
The City Council approved on November 18 a resolution giving Mayor Michael Rama the authority to enter into an agreement with the DSWD-7 for the purpose.
The DSWD-7, in coordination with various stakeholders advocating for the cause of street dwellers and indigenous people, has already formulated the comprehensive program for street dwellers and indigenous people especially the Sama-Badjaus in Cebu City.
The project's objective is "to contribute in the reduction of vulnerabilities of children and families on the streets" through providing comprehensive package of services.
DSWD-7 would be giving financial and technical support to the city in implementing the project. The city government will likewise provide its own share of resources by financing some expenditures of the project.
Under the contract, DSWD-7 will be releasing a total amount of P3,646,657 in staggered basis: P2,882,140 for 2015 and P764,517 for 2016.
The second tranche will be received only by the city government after the submission of the complete liquidation of the first release.
The city government has yet to submit its budget to the City Council for approval. The agreement also provides that DSWD-7 could coordinate and network with other government agencies and private groups for support services needed by the city.
Its personnel can likewise capacitate the project support groups and its beneficiaries through trainings, seminars, and meetings. They could also refer rescued individuals to other programs and services of the regional office such as alternative family arrangements, Crisis Intervention Unit, and Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, among others.
DSWD-7 is also tasked to register and provide license and accreditation to the facilities catering to street dwellers and monitor its compliance to Social Welfare Standards.
The city government, for its part, will take the lead in planning and implementing the projects and services for children and families found in the streets including the conduct of "reach-out" operations.
It should also assign a direct service worker from DSWS to act as the "project focal person" with its corresponding function such as coordinating in the groundwork and implementation of activities such as community organizing, and mapping, among others.
The focal person is also tasked to conduct enumeration of street dwellers to be served by the program and maintain a database of children, unattached adults and families at risk in the streets. —/FPL (FREEMAN)