The Department of the Interior and Local Government has directed all Metro Manila mayors to strictly enforce a “no permit, no rally” rule but for the police to observe a policy of maximum tolerance during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Leaders’ Summit on Nov. 18 to 19 in Manila.
“Although our laws ensure the free exercise of the people’s right to peaceably assemble and petition the government, we would like to reiterate that we have to observe proper guidelines, including seeking permits to conduct rallies,” Interior Secretary Mel Senen Sarmiento said in a statement.
In his directive, Sarmiento said a mayor or any official acting in his behalf “may grant the application and issue the corresponding permit to rally.”
However, permits may not be granted in cases “where there is clear and convincing evidence that the public assembly will create a clear and present danger to public order, safety and convenience.”
Sarmiento said a written permit is not required only when the rally is held in a “freedom park” established by law or ordinance or in a private property, in which case only the consent of the owner is required.
He added that a permit is also not needed “if the assembly is made in the campus of a government-owned and -operated educational institution, subject to the rules and regulation of the school or campus.”
Sarmiento explained that while law enforcement agencies will be in charge of securing the Apec leaders, “Metro Mayors must help in maintaining peace and order by observing the proper guidelines to ensure the safety of those who will join the rallies.”
Meanwhile, he said the police “shall at all times be mindful of their duty to keep the peace and provide proper protection to those exercising their right to peaceful assembly.”
Malacañang earlier announced that 20 leaders have confirmed attendance to the 2015 Apec Summit in Manila, including United States President Barack Obama, Russia President Vladimir Putin, Indonesia President Joko Widodo, Mexico President Enrique Peña Nieto, Chile President Michelle Bachelet, and newly sworn-in Canadian Prime Minster Justin Trudeau.
As this developed, the Department of Social Welfare and Development has reiterated that the grant of P4,000 house rental assistance to street families in Metro Manila is not a strategy aimed at hiding them during the forthcoming Apec summit.
“There is no truth to the claim of some sectors that the provision of P4,000 rental aid to homeless families is a strategy to hide them during the Apec meeting. It is a component of the Modified Conditional Cash Transfer Program for Homeless Street Families,” said DSWD Secretary Corazon Soliman.
She said MCCT-HSF is a program patterned after the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, which focuses on providing a complete package of assistance to street families.
Similar to 4Ps, the MCCT-HSF also has a component of cash grants provided to beneficiaries adhering to a set of conditions like sending of their children to schools, attending family development sessions and regular visits to health centers.
The only difference between the two programs is that families under the 4Ps, beneficiaries have permanent addresses from the time of their inclusion in the program, while those of MCCT-HSF have none because they are street dwellers, a problem which is being resolved by the national government through the DSWD and local government units.
The package of assistance includes a responsive shelter program, access to social services, and economic opportunities for the improvement of their living conditions.
On the charge that the street dwellers were being hidden during the Apec summit, the DSWD chief emphasized that the program is being carried out on a year-round basis.