DSWD’s Oplan Pag-Abot program helps 750 homeless people

Usec. Edu Punay, DSWD | Saturday News Forum (October 21, 2023). Arnel Tacson / INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has assisted at least 750 homeless people in Metro Manila.

Through the Oplan Pag-Abot program, DSWD Undersecretary for Innovations Edu Punay said they reached out to more than a thousand individuals in street situation or ISS between April 24 and November 8.

“So far within NCR [National Capital Region], 1,245 individuals na po ang ating nakausap na mga ISS, and out of that mayroon pong 751 na sumama sa atin,” Punay said in a press conference.

(So far within NCR [National Capital Region], we have spoken to 1,245 ISS, and out of that, there are 751 who have come with us.)

Punay noted that 92 of the 751 are Indigenous Peoples or IPs.

READ: DSWD kicks off ‘Oplan Pag-Abot’ to get homeless off the streets

He also said that the 751 were either sent to care facilities or brought back to their respective provinces and given necessary assistance like food and medical supplies.

Oplan Pag-Abot program involves DSWD personnel who roam around Metro Manila 24 hours a day and seven days a week to convince the ISS to voluntarily come with them and be given the proper aid they need to get back on their feet.

READ: DSWD eyes isolation facilities as interim housing for homeless people

But Punay stressed that going around the streets of Metro Manila and talking to ISS is not an easy task as it could even be dangerous.

“Buwis-buhay…mayroong [DSWD personnel] hinabol ng saksak [kutsilyo], mayroong kinagat ng bata,” he said.

(Life threatening… some [DSWD personnel] were chased with a [knife], some were bitten by a child.)

Punay nevertheless pointed out that the program is able to provide the street dwellers the help they need as well as obtain identification cards which allowing the tracking of their situation.

READ: Street dweller arrested in Manila for curfew violation