Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte has tapped the city social welfare department and its Task Force Disiplina to reach out to indigenous peoples and street dwellers roaming around the city this holiday season.
Under Belmonte’s directive, 80 street dwellers, including six Aeta families, received extended assistance from the city government and a basket of food and grocery items.
Some of the street dwellers are beneficiaries of the government’s modified conditional cash transfer program for the homeless although they still depend on alms for their everyday needs.
The Aeta families, who came from Pampanga and Zambales provinces, were found roaming on E. Rodriguez Avenue and Kamuning Market.
Aside from the food packs, they were also given bus tickets so that they could return to their hometown. —Mariejo S. Ramos