Parañaque intensifies anti-mendicancy campaign

Sunday 29th of July 2012

PARAÑAQUE CITY, July 29 (PIA) -- The city government of Parañaque has stepped up its anti-mendicancy advocacy campaign following the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s policy to stop mendicancy.

“We support DSWD’s efforts to stop mendicancy. We need to put a halt to it as it breeds crime,” said Parañaque City Mayor Jun Bernabe.

In a release, Bernabe added that mendicancy (the practice of begging) endangers the life of mendicants, as well as expose them to abuse, indignities and degradation.

The local government unit’s drive is in line with the provisions of Presidential Decree 1563 or also known as the Mendicancy Law of 1978.

With the theme, “Bata sa Tahanan, Hindi sa Lansangan!” and “Don’t Give, Don’t Buy!” the Parañaque DSWD takes the lead in information dissemination drive in schools, communities and commercial establishments in partnership with the city government, Department of Education, non-government organizations, and the business community.

The main objectives of P.D. 1563 include: a) Prevention of the commission of mendicancy; b) Prevention of the exploitation of infants and children through mendicancy and provide habilitative services for those already exploited or in immediate danger of exploitation; and c) Promotion of the rehabilitation of minors found begging and mendicants by providing an integrated developmental package of preventive, interceptive, remedial, and/or rehabilitative services.

Under the law, persons found begging shall be apprehended and meted with fines and penalties. In like manner, persons giving alms shall likewise be fined. Infants, children or minors found begging shall be considered as neglected children and committed to DSWD custody. Meanwhile, parents of said neglected children shall be proceeded against in accordance with P.D. No. 603.

Meanwhile, DSWD-NCR disclosed that, as of November 2010, there are total of 5,086 street dwellers who are roaming the streets of Metro Manila with 657 families and 3,072 street children.

Children often wind up on the streets due to the following reasons: Lack of basic needs (food, water, medicine, clothing); No permanent home; Parents are unemployed; No money for education; Break-up of family; and Abandonment.

In response to this, the DSWD provides programs for street children and families to include: Creation of activity centers in cities and municipalities; Balik-Probinsya Program; Day and night minding centers; Camping activities for street children; Livelihood programs; and Educational support for children. (PARAÑAQUE-PIO/RJB/JEG-PIA-NCR)