The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has so far reached out to 1,461 people living and staying on Metro Manila’s streets through its “Oplan Pag-Abot,” which was launched in July this year.

DSWD Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs Irene B. Dumlao said that as of Dec. 18, the DSWD had reached out to 871 family members and 590 unattached individuals, including children and elderly, from various areas in Metro Manila.

Of those rescued, 446 received support through the “Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-Asa” program, and 189 received aid through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program.

Meanwhile, 583 people are presently receiving temporary residential care in centers and residential care facilities run by the DSWD, while 878 people who were reached out to were referred to their respective local government units for appropriate interventions.

“The social workers continue to roam around Metro Manila to ensure that the families and individuals in the streets will be convinced to come with us,” Dumlao, who is also the data privacy officer and the agency’s co-spokesperson, said.

She noted that over 1,500 individuals were profiled through the environment scanning activities conducted by the social workers before the actual reach-out operations.

“Profiling is important to identify the areas that these families are seen more frequently,” Dumlao said.

The “Oplan Pag-Abot sa Pasko” project was strengthened by the DSWD for the holiday season in order to reach out to more families and individuals who typically flock to the streets to beg.

It is one of the DSWD’s flagship programs, led by Secretary Rex Gatchalian, to assist, support, and protect individuals and families living on the streets by providing appropriate interventions.