Manila to ‘rescue’ street dwellers after APEC

Simultaneous “rescue” operations of street dwellers are scheduled next week, a few days after the end of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, officials said yesterday.

The simultaneous “rescue drive” follows the previous operations of national and local social welfare officials in clearing selected Metro Manila roads of street dwellers days before the economic leaders convened for the international summit hosted by the Philippines.

The Public Information Office (PIO) of the Manila City Hall said the simultaneous rescue operations are slated early morning of November 25 from Districts 1 to 6 and will be spearheaded by the Manila Social Welfare and Development (MSWD) office.

As of yesterday, 205 individuals were cleared off the streets of Manila and were taken to the Boys Town complex in Marikina, a facility maintained and operated by the city government of Manila.

The rescue activities were conducted in coordination with local authorities including the Manila Police District (MPD) and the Manila Barangay bureau.

Earlier, officials of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) denied they are hiding the street dwellers from the APEC visitors and insisted that rescue operations are conducted regularly by the government agency.

Last week, 141 homeless families were rescued ahead of the APEC summit. The Manila PIO said 123 of them were certified to be residents of Manila while 18 were non-Manila residents.

The Manila residents were turned over to the Boys Town complex while the 18 non-Manila residents were taken to Jose Fabella Center in Mandaluyong where they were provided with livelihood training and education.

Meanwhile, Manila residents who are able to provide proof of residency were released immediately, authorities said.

The homeless individuals are bathed and fed at the Reception and Action Center (RAC) in Arroceros Street before turning them over either to the Boys Town complex or to Jose Fabella Center.

The RAC is a city government-run facility for street children that is temporarily closed as it undergoes renovation.