DSWD: Obey Anti-Mendicancy Law

MANILA – Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) spokesperson Romel Lopez on Thursday asked the public to refuse giving “limos” (alms) to street beggars in accordance with the Anti-Mendicancy Law.

During the Thursday Media Forum at the New Press Center of the DSWD Central Office in Batasan Hills, Quezon City, Lopez appealed to the people to stop tolerating beggars on the street by giving alms, saying it would only encourage them to hang on with their begging activities.

Lopez, who is also the DSWD Assistant Secretary for Strategic Communications, said violation of the Anti-Mendicancy Law undermines the implementation of Oplan Pag-Abot program, which seeks to address the worsening problem regarding individuals or families in street situations.

“Alam naman natin kung gaano ang panganib ng mga namamalimos sa lansangan lalo na para sa mga may kapansanan. Andyan ‘yung mga may bitibit at akay-akay na mga musmos, merong mga may kasamang bulag na kumakatok sa mga kotse para humingi ng limos (We know how risky it is for those beggars on the roads especially those with handicaps. There are those carrying infants along with small children, some are with blind ones who used to knock on car windows to ask for some penny),” he said.

He said occasionally, some motorists even have figured in accidents trying to avoid these beggars, adding that tolerating them in the long term, would only tend to derail government programs, especially the Pag-Abot program.

Meanwhile, Social Technology Bureau chief Marilyn Moral said since the Oplan Pag-Abot program started, the DSWD has already managed to send around 590 persons from the streets of Metro Manila, back to their home province. /