City offers free sleeping space for street dwellers

CEBU, Philippines — From cleaning up clogged rivers and creeks, the Cebu City government is also now "cleaning up" the streets, this time of vagrants and other dwellers.

For these street dwellers, the city government has offered a place for them to sleep at the NOAH Complex at the South Road Properties.

“Ang tumong gyud sa atong Mayor (Michael Rama) is paghinlo sa atong mga sidewalks during nighttime… So we are trying to suroy sa mga common na lugar, including the City Hall,” said Ester Concha, officer-in-charge of the Department of Social Works and Services.

Concha said some of those sleeping on the streets are not really homeless, but are vendors who do not want to go home anymore at night.

“Actually ang uban dunay mga balay but tapulan manguli kay inig ka kadlawn ang ilang negosyo," she said.

Aside from the temporary shelter, they are also provided transportation to and from the SRP.

“Kuhaon silag bus, dad-on sila didto sa atong shelter besides NOAH, unya adto sila mangatug. Then let say mga 5 o'clock kuhaon sad silag balik sa bus, ihatud og asa sila gikuha,” Concha added.

Concha said they already have some “regulars” but many still do not know about this program while others are hesitant to avail of it.

“We already have regulars nga inig abot sa bus, musakay na sila didto but very few. But hopefully, ang uban makasabot sad. Naa pa may uban nga gahi-gahi gyud but hopefully, makasabot sad, siguro nabag-uhan sa program,” said Concha.

Concha said DSWS provides shelter to at least 40 street dwellers at night at the NOAH.

“Hopefully kanang atong mga street dwellers makasabot sila nga kung tulugan lang ilang problema, the government is offering a shelter for them, makatug pa silag maayo didto, safe pa ilahang sitwasyon didto,” said Concha.

Even patient watchers staying and sleeping outside Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center are also welcome to sleep over at NOAH. A bus is also stationed for them at night.

“Atong Mayor nibutang didto og bus for them nga kung ganahan sila ngadto sa NOAH, pwede ra gyud sad sila didto, iuli ra pud nato sila mga 5'oclock,” said Concha. — Decemay P. Padilla, JMD (FREEMAN)