With the holiday season approaching, the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Pag-abot Program has reminded the public not to extend alms to children in street situations, homeless persons, and Indigenous Peoples’ (IP) groups.

“Alam po natin ang ating mga kababayan, ngayong Ber months, ay talaga pong natural na mapagbigay, tumutulong, nagbibigay ng tulong, maawain (We know that our countrymen, during the Ber months, are naturally generous, helpful, giving, and compassionate). Iyon po yung gusto nating i-correct at i-educate yung ating public na hindi po tamang magbigay ng tulong o ng limos sa kalsada (That is what we want to correct and educate our public about, that it is not right to give help or alms on the streets). Mayroon po tayong mga proper channels o venues para po magbigay ng kanilang tulong o donasyon (We have proper channels or venues where they can give their help or donations),” Pag-abot Program Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Division Chief (DC) Jennifer Casañas said in a radio interview on Saturday, September 27.

The DSWD’s appeal aligns with the Anti-Mendicancy Law (Presidential Decree No. 1563, 1978), which prohibits begging and almsgiving in public places, penalizes both mendicants and those who exploit them, and encourages channeling assistance to the poor through government or accredited institutions.

According to Casañas, one of the proper platforms to extend support to families and individuals in street situations (FISS) is through the agency’s Pag-abot Program, which operates throughout the year.

“Ito po ay mainstay program na po ng DSWD, ibig sabihin hindi po tayo tumatakbo seasonal (This is a mainstay program of the DSWD, meaning we are not seasonal). Araw-araw po talaga tayong nagri-reach out activity sa mga target LGUs (local government units) po natin, and even nationwide (Every day we conduct outreach activities in our target LGUs, and even nationwide),” she said.

Launched in 2023 and institutionalized through Executive Order (EO) No. 52 in January 2024, the Pag-abot Program provides a wide array of comprehensive interventions and opportunities aimed at improving the social and economic status and fundamental rights of its target clientele.

The program, she said, employs a rights-based approach in reaching out to people living and staying on the streets.

“Sa Pag-abot Program, naka-anchor po tayo sa rights-based approach…ayaw po natin yung sapilitan na o pwersahan (In the Pag-abot Program, we are anchored on a rights-based approach…we do not want anything compulsory or forced). Gusto po natin maipaliwanag sa kanila ng ating mga social workers and development workers na mapanganib at hindi po safe na mamuhay sa lansangan (We want our social workers and development workers to explain to them that living on the streets is dangerous and unsafe),” Casañas explained.

The DSWD said concerned citizens may report sightings of families and individuals in street situations to the Pag-abot Program through their official email at [email protected] or via their Facebook page, DSWD Pag-abot Program.

Latest data showed that the program has already profiled around 14,000 individuals and reached out to more than 7,000 FISS.

Of the total, over 6,000 have received necessary interventions, such as livelihood assistance, temporary shelter, and counseling.