Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman refuted the claim of a human rights group that hundreds of homeless families were taken off the streets saying that only 77 families were reached-out by the Manila Department of Social Welfare during a city wide reach out operations.

“What the media saw during the visit at the Boystown were regular residents of the center who have been reached out much earlier than the city wide reach-out operation, “ Sec. Soliman said.

It can be recalled that local government of Manila brought the reached-out families to the Boystown where they were interviewed and assessed for the provision of appropriate services.

During the assessment, 12 families were assessed to be potential beneficiaries of the Modified Conditional Cash Transfer for Homeless Families (MCCT-HSF) and two were qualified under the regular Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

The MCCT is an expansion of the Pantawid Pamilya, which provides a complete package of assistance to street families, including responsive shelter program, access to social services, and economic opportunities for the improvement of their living conditions. It also extends house rental assistance of up to P4,000 per month, which is paid directly to the lessor and not the families, for six months to one year. MCCT-HSF started in 2012.

Some 73 adults were also provided Cash-for-Work (CFW) where they helped in cleaning the quarters and the surroundings of the center. The CFW beneficiaries received P360 per day.

They are now being evaluated if they are qualified to avail of employment facilitation where they will be employed as park attendants.

Back on the streets?

On the issue that the homeless are now back on the street after one week, Sec. Soliman said that those roaming the streets now may have come from other areas as they move from one place to another.

“They too will be reached-out by the Department in partnership with the LGU so that their needs will also be assessed,” Sec. Soliman continued.

Sec. Soliman also cited the positive result of the reach-out operation and family camp in January saying that 75 of the 100 street families who were part of the activities are now living in safe houses through the provision of financial assistance and Alternative Family Home (AFH) with sustainable livelihood. Their children are also enrolled under the Alternative Learning System (ALS) of the Department of Education.

The rest have gone back to their provinces of origin or have returned to their homes in Metro Manila but continue to receive follow through services from the Department and from concerned LGUs.

Sec. Soliman also shared that of the 4,408 beneficiaries of the MCCT-HSF, 700 families are now able to pay for their house rental. ###