Makati launches 'Sagip Tao'

By Jerome Carlo R. Paunan

Sunday 5th of August 2012

MAKATI CITY, Aug. 5 (PIA) -- "Sagip Tao (Rescue Man), an information drive by the city of Makati, aims just that -- to save the man on the street, in particular the marginalized persons from mendicancy.

Makati wants to reiterate to the people about the Anti-Mendicancy Law which promotes responsible giving and discourage the exploitation of marginalized members of society.

In a statement, Marjorie De Veyra, MSWD head, said the project is an advocacy campaign aimed to prevent the proliferation of beggars and vagrants by discouraging motorists and the riding public from giving them alms.

“Many people are not aware that giving alms and begging in the streets are prohibited by the law. Even though they have good intentions, those who give alms may inadvertently encourage the exploitation of children, senior citizens and persons with disability by unscrupulous syndicates,” De Veyra said.

The MSWD chief urged the public, especially motorists, to be discerning in giving charity to the poor and choose legitimate channels for their donations, such as charitable institutions and foundations.

Accompanied by live performance by the Makati Police Safety Assistance (MAPSA) Band, around 100 MSWD officials and staff converged last July 25 at the intersection of Sen. Gil Puyat and Makati Avenues where they distributed flyers to motorists and pedestrians and held up placards with slogans about the anti-Mendicancy Law or Presidential Decree 1563 enacted in 1978.

The said law, which some sectors are pushing for amendment, recognizes that “mendicancy breeds crime, creates traffic hazards, endangers health, and exposes mendicants to indignities and degradation.”

For those caught begging on the streets, it provides a penalty of either P500 or jail term not exceeding two years, or both at the discretion of the court.

Habitual mendicants face a bigger fine not exceeding P1,000 or jail term of not more than four years, or both. However, givers of alms on the streets are fined a mere P20 for every infraction.

From January to June of this year, composite teams of personnel from MWSD Emergency Assistance Section, city police and public safety departments, and Bantay Bayan of concerned barangays have rescued 58 residents and 131 non-residents during random round-up operations conducted along Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue and other city streets frequented by mendicants.

The residents rounded up consisted of 25 male minors, nine female minors, 17 male adults and seven female adults. The 131 non-residents included 49 male minors, 33 female minors, 18 male adults, and 31 female adults.

De Veyra said rescued female minors and adult women and men are brought to the Social Development Center (SDC) in Barangay Tejeros where social workers interview and counsel them. Male minor residents are given temporary shelter at the Makati Youth Home in Barangay La Paz and also undergo counselling at the Child and Youth Welfare Section of MSWD.

On the other hand, non-residents after processing are endorsed to the concerned city social welfare and development office in the locality where they reside.

The MSWD will continue to pursue the Sagip Tao advocacy campaign through strategic information drive and intensified rescue operations in the Central Business Districts and other areas in Makati, she said. (ICRD/RJB/JCP-PIA NCR)