As the “ber” months signal the countdown to Christmas , beggars and carolers have started to descend the city’s streets and take advantage of the people’s generosity during the festive season.
To address this, the Cebu City government has asked the Cebu City Police Office (CPPO) to round up mendicants and keep them out of harm’s way.
In the regular meeting of the Police Coordinating and Advisory Council (PCAC) yesterday, the Cebu City Anti-Mendicancy Board, represented by city public information officer Carlo Dugaduga, raised the concern to the city’s police chief, Senior Supt Noli Romana.
Dugaduga said policemen assigned to patrol street junctions where mendicants proliferate should warn them, and if they do not heed, they will be “rescued” and sent to the Citi Center in barangay Kamagayan. The Citi Center now serves as a shelter for homeless mendicants.
‘Stop giving’
The problem of mendicancy has been recurring in the city for years. Asked how they intend to completely eliminate them, Dugaduga said they will launch an information, education and communication (IEC) campaign.
“We have to convince the public to stop giving to these mendicants. If there will be no one giving, then they will also stop asking,” he said. The anti-mendicancy board is also looking into signing a Memorandum of Agreement with the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) to help in the IEC campaign. They also plan to do outdoor advertising.
City Ordinance 1631 prohibits and penalizes both giving to and soliciting by mendicants of cash or any material goods. Anyone giving alms will be fined P1,000 or would be required to render community service while beggars would be rehabilitated.
Meanwhile, City Ordinance 2304 makes caroling on city streets and on board public utility vehicles unlawful.
No manpower
Isabelita Ganub, executive director of the Cebu City Anti-Mendicancy Office, said that the participation of the police in their campaigns is needed as they do not have enough manpower.
The office is especially worried with children carolers in jeepneys.
“We are afraid that they might be hit by passing vehicles because they immediately run when we see them,” Ganub added.
The rescued mendicants, if found to be homeless will be referred to the barangays.
“Supposedly, the Gender and Development desk of the barangay and the DSWS should come in. We just refer them to the barangay because we haven’t had a budget for two years,” Ganub said.
Ganub said that the barangay should also help in rounding up the mendicants in their area because they lack personnel. She also discouraged the public to give alms to them.
Joy Pesquera, the mayor’s representative to the Cebu City Anti-Mendicancy Board, assured that the children will be handled properly. “If we find out that the parents force them to beg in the streets, we will file cases against the parents,” Pesquera said.
Parents found to be forcing their children to beg in the streets would face child abuse charges.