Indigents moved out of Taboan market

CEBU, Philippines - The Squatters Prevention Encroachment Elimination Division (SPEED) padlocked the second floor of the Taboan public market last Monday, which left about 100 indigent individuals City Hall has rescued from the sidewalks no choice but to return to the streets.

SPEED chief Noel Artes explained that he decided to padlock the market’s second floor after they found out that some of the indigent individuals who were made to stay there engaged in illegal activities like gambling and sniffing of shabu inside their shanties.

The indigent individuals were allowed to stay at the market’s second floor temporarily beginning last year while they wait to be transported to their hometowns. They were rescued off the streets by members of the Oplan Nigh Dwellers headed by Rene Mercado.

A certain Adonis Carbajal who used to stay at the second floor also claimed that some SPEED members allegedly allowed their girlfriends to own shanties there.

Artes said they have sent some of the indigents back to their hometowns in Consolacion and other places in southern Cebu, but many of them still reportedly returned to the streets. Artes admitted those who returned to the streets will be another headache to the city.

Some personnel of the Market Operations Division (MOD) were utilized to help SPEED members bring the indigents out of the market building.

The city, through its Anti-Mendicancy Office, already transported dozens of street dwellers to their respective provinces to as far as Negros Occidental and Mindanao.

Mayor Michael Rama ordered to rescue the indigents from the streets because they have become eyesores, particularly to foreigners.

Investigation showed that some of these individuals decided to come to Cebu City hoping that they could find jobs, but failed because of lack of educational attainment. Some of them just acted as dispatchers, watch-your-car boys and laborers to earn a living.

When Rama was informed about the development, he ordered that these individuals be given assistance if they want to return to their respective hometowns. — (FREEMAN)