THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Wednesday said the planned database for street families living would help combat exploitation of the vulnerable sector.
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, in an interview, stressed that information is powerful in making interventions to protect the homeless from exploitation.
“Alam natin na ang lansangan ay hindi angkop na lugar para sa ating mga pamilya, lalo na sa kababaihan at kabataan na maaaring ma-expose sa exploitation,” he said.
The DSWD has launched the “Oplan Pag-abot” program for individuals and families living on the streets of Metro Manila. Through the program, street dwellers will be provided with identification cards (IDs) and undergo biometric registration so they can be better monitored by the DSWD.
Gatchalian underscored the importance of providing the street dwellers with IDs, saying that it recognizes their right to be identified, considering that many of them do not have any form of identification.
“Itong kababayan natin, imagine, mahihirapan kumuha ng PhilSys ‘to kasi walang birth certificate, wala talagang kahit anong identification. Sana sa ID na ini-issue out ng DSWD, maging…first step to get those identification later on,” he said.
(They will have a hard time getting PhilSys because they don’t have a birth certificate, they don’t have any identification. Hopefully the ID issued by the DSWD will become the first step to getting those identifications later on.)
These IDs given by DSWD, however, are not considered as “government-issued” and can not be used for all transactions.
“Unfortunately, hindi siya listed as a government ID, but syempre pangunahin na ‘yan. ‘Pag nakita na ‘yan na DSWD, they can always call DSWD and we can validate the information nung mamamayan na ‘yun. Unang hakbang ‘yan patungo sa pagkakaron ng mga regular IDs,” the DSWD chief added.
(Unfortunately, it is not listed as a government ID, but of course that’s a starter. When authorities see that it is a DSWD ID, they can always call DSWD and we can validate the information of that citizen. That is the first step towards getting them regular IDs.)
Under the program, the DSWD will talk with the target beneficiaries to know the assistance they need, including provision of food and medicine.
The agency will also help them return to their provinces and get livelihood assistance. Children without families will be adopted or placed in the care of a guardian.