The local government of Dumaguete is embarking on a program to address the problem on vagrants and street people roaming around the City.
Last Friday, the City government rounded up these people as it reels off with its action plan which comprises immediate remedies and long-term solutions to the problem.
A series of meetings was held this week to map out an organized, systematic, and coordinated manner of rounding up Badjaos, Ata, street children, deranged persons, mendicants, and gather them at the Dumaguete City High School gymnasium.
Documentation and profiling will be done for every individual who shall also be provided with food and water, relief goods such as soap and shampoo, and clothing, said Carola Alquero of the City Social Welfare & Development Office (CSWDO).
Orientation and warning lectures according to ethnic groups shall be held separately for Badjaos, Atas, street children, and mendicants and other street people.
Speakers for Badjaos include Dr. Butler Talla, Atty. Conrado Concepcion II, Tinang Jubela and some reformed Badjaos; Gemma Iso will lead a speakers’ bureau for street children.
The program will also include designation of a temporary place for mendicants, inducing Badjaos and Atas, to return to their respective homes, and a massive information campaign to discourage people from giving alms to these people.
The round-up enforcers and personnel will include CSWDO social workers and other personnel, the Philippine National Police, tourist police, Traffic Management Office enforcers, Environment &Natural Resources Office enforcers, Quick Response Team personnel, Rescue 348 members, and Task Force SAGARR.
City government-owned vehicles will be utilized during the simultaneous rounding up of vagrants and other street people starting 8 a.m. Friday.
The immediate remedy will be followed by other activities to ensure that these people will no longer continue roaming the streets of Dumaguete.
This comes following observations of an increase in the influx and presence of mendicants, vagrants, and other similar individuals at the height of the City fiesta celebration last week. The same pattern is expected in the next few weeks with the upcoming Christmas holiday season. (PNA)
