DSWD aids 100 street kids, families in Metro Manila
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has extended assistance to 49 street children and more than 50 street families in the National Capital Region (NCR).
Citing a report from the Field Office-NCR, DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao said from January to October 2020, the agency's Comprehensive Program for Street Children, Street Families, and Indigenous Peoples benefited 49 street children and 51 street families.
“Mayroon tayong mga 49 na street children at 51 na street families ang nabigyan ng DSWD Field Office ng iba’t-ibang serbisyo sa ilalim ng programa ng Comprehensive Program for Street Children, Street Families, and Indigenous Peoples. Ito po 'yung pagbibigay ng educational assistance para sa mga bata, at livelihood assistance para sa mga pamilya,” she told the DZBB in an interview.
(We have 49 street children and 51 street families who were given different services by the DSWD Field Office under the Comprehensive Program for Street Children, Street Families, and Indigenous Peoples. This includes giving educational assistance to the children and livelihood assistance to the families)
She expressed the agency’s commitment to continuously implement the expanded Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) to assist homeless families living on the streets or the Modified Conditional Cash Transfer for Homeless Street Families (MCCT-HSF).
Dumlao said in the NCR, around 2, 960 homeless families were included in the program.
Under the program, the recipients will receive these benefits: Education and health grants; access to social services; economic opportunities; and rent subsidy for a period of six to 12 months or depending on the capability of the household-beneficiaries to improve their living conditions.
“’Yung modified conditional cash transfer for homeless street families ay continuous na pinapatupad ng ating departmento,” Dumlao said.
(The modified Conditional Cash Transfer for homeless street families is continuously being implemented by the department)
The DSWD official noted that they are closely coordinating with local government units (LGUs) "who have been active in ensuring that the number of street children and families will be reduced.”
Dumlao renewed the agency’s appeal to the public to report any sightings of street children and individuals at-risk on the streets.
She said concerned citizens may contact the Crisis Intervention Unit of the DSWD Field Office National Capital Region (FO-NCR) at 8735-5413.