Mayor Rama: Send back street dwellers to their origin

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama is asking other local government units’ cooperation concerning street dwellers and mendicants currently in the city.

Rama has been aiming for a zero street dwellers in the city since June of this year.

However, several months since declaring the campaign, there are still several street dwellers commonly known as “libud-suroy” visible in different parts of the city.

Rama said he had already been discussing the matter with the Cebu City Police Office and other concerned departments.

He even ended up talking to some street dwellers himself and found out that most of them are not originally from Cebu City.

With this, Rama hopes that other LGUs whom these street dwellers are originally from will also help for their return.

Rama said he already instructed the new officer-in-charge of the Department of General Services, Ian Hassamal, to address this concern.

These street dwellers are called as “carton boys and girls” since they bring with them pieces of carton boxes wherever they go.

Rama also said he will be replacing department heads if they are casuals or job orders if they cannot do their jobs well in addressing this problem.

The mayor is also asking the business establishments to help and ensure that they do not tolerate these dwellers from sleeping in their spaces.

The CCPO had also been instructed for more police visibility and to apprehend street dwellers, especially mendicants who threaten those who refuse to give them money.

“Dakpon, dakpon gyud labaw pag manghulga,” said Rama.

A holding center for these dwellers is also in place already, Rama said.

The mayor said he will be meeting with CCPO chief, Col. Ireneo Dalogdog, to discuss the matter and other issues concerning peace and order. — (FREEMAN)