A team of social workers from the Department of Social Welfare and Development-National Capital Region (DSWD-NCR) continues to assist the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) of Manila in providing appropriate services to the homeless families who were brought to Boystown after a citywide reach out operation last week, which was solely an initiative of the Manila local government.

Around 24 families or 87 individuals composed of 42 adults and 45 minors are now temporarily staying at the center. There are also 118 unattached adults. All of them were reached out during last week’s operation.

Upon coordination with the CSWDO yesterday, the DSWD social workers gathered the families for an interview and assessment to determine their profile and the appropriate services that they need. The families will be assisted according to their needs.

Based on the assessment, the families who have their own houses will be brought back home. Those who do not have houses will be registered under the Modified Conditional Cash Transfer Program for Homeless Street Families (MCCT-HSF).  Adults who are capable of working will be provided Cash-For-Work. The children, on the other hand, will undergo play therapy and other kids activities while at the center.

As of press time, 12 families were assessed to be potential beneficiaries of the MCCT-HSF and two are qualified under the regular Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.  Some 73 adults are currently undertaking Cash-for-Work (CFW) where they help in cleaning the quarters and the surroundings of the center. The CFW beneficiaries will receive P360 per day.

The rest are being assessed for other appropriate services or referral to other government agencies.

Some of the families whose houses were gutted by fire and were forced to stay on the streets will also be given appropriate services.

The team of social workers also brought 300 family food packs for the families to ensure their daily food needs.

To keep the families busy, a free training on massage therapy and haircutting for the adults is being conducted at the center.

DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman said that DSWD-NCR will continue to work with the CSWDO to ensure the safety and welfare of the families.

Based on the Devolution Act of 1991, LGUs have the primary role of assisting street dwellers under their jurisdiction while the DSWD is mandated to render technical and resource augmentation to LGUs.

For his part, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada also visited the families at the center to validate reports that they are being detained.

He assured the families that food supply will be enough to cover their stay at the center.

Not detained

The families clarified reports that they were being detained at the center.

Virgilia de Veyra, 56, denied that they were being detained. She and husband Pascual were reached out along Pureza St in Sta. Mesa.

“Hindi po kami kinukulong dito dahil malaya naman kaming nakakalakad dito sa compound (We are not being detained here because we are free to walk around the compound),” Virgilia said

Virgilia expressed her thanks that she was included in the CFW.

She said that once they leave the center, she will use her earnings from the CFW to rent a small room for her and husband who is a stroke survivor.

She shared that they were fed regularly, though there were some who complained about the variety of food served.

Rolando Tranzona, 40, echoed what Virgilia said. Rolando, and common-law wife Getheryn Macapundag, and their 4 children were reached-out along Adriatico St. on November 16.

“Hindi po kami nakakulong dito. Maayos naman ang pakitungo nila sa amin. (We are not being detained here. They treat us well),” Rolando said.

Rolando added that they will return to their house in Adriatico since Getheryn is a beneficiary of MCCT and they are assured of rental assistance.

Busy

The CFW started yesterday with a group of 20 men cleaning the olympic-sized swimming pool while another group of 10 women cleaned the main quarter which is their sleeping area.

Arvin de la Cruz, street educator from the CSWDO of Manila, said that these men and women comprise the morning session of the CFW. Another batch of beneficiaries will do the cleaning for the afternoon batch. ###