DSWD eyes isolation facilities as interim housing for homeless people

Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian answers questions from members of the media during his first press briefing as DSWD secretary on February 3, 2023 at the DSWD Central Office. INQUIRER.net file photo / NOY MORCOSO

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is looking at old isolation facilities as possible housing for homeless people now living in the  street.

At present, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said there are only 76 residential care facilities “with varying mandates” like providing shelter for senior citizens and abandoned children.

The main facility in Metro Manila, he said, is the Fabella Center, which currently houses close to 300 to 400 people.

To further strengthen special protection for families in street situation, Gatchalian said the agency also piloted recently an outreach program in Pasay City and is planning to expand it to other cities.

“We’ve realized that unfortunately, a lot of our kababayans are now living in street situation so we wanna make sure that we move them in our care facilities. But given the limited structures namin kasi we only have 76, we’re also working with other government agencies about using the old isolation facilities,” he said when he faced his confirmation hearing in the Senate  on  Tuesday.

“We are currently talking  to the Department of Tourism, we’ve also spoken to BCDA (Bases Conversion and Development Authority ) about borrowing these built isolation facilities  as interim housing kasi the ultimate goal is to bring them back to their province or their origin,” he also said.

Gatchalian assured that the government has an existing program to ensure that there are economic opportunities for  those who are returning to the province.

It was Senator Cynthia Villar  who asked about the government’s programs for homeless people lamenting that DSWD’s local offices are not doing anything about it.

“So what are the alternatives for a person like me who can’t stand those homeless people specially they are staying in our  historical sites  which are for tourists  and they are living there and making their livelihood there. So what will we do?” Villar asked.

“Like me a senator, I’m not part of the local. I always call the local but they fail to do something about this. Whom do I call in the national office?”

Aside from their recently launched program in Pasay City, Gatchalian said they would also publish helplines for common citizens.

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JPV