Street dwellers’ eviction not due to Apec meet, says Palace

Malacañang has clarified that the removal of street dwellers and beggars in Metro Manila is part of the government’s program to give homeless families “dignified living quarters” and not due to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) leaders’ meeting this November.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte on Friday said homeless families had not been “hidden from view” of world leaders attending the Apec summit in Manila.

“Hindi po hidden from view. Naipaliwanag po natin na ’yung modified CCT (conditional cash transfer) ay isang programang matagal nang ginagawa ng DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development),” Valte said in a press conference.

Valte issued the statement after Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo assailed the Aquino government’s plan to hide street dwellers during the Apec summit.

Pabillo said homeless families were given P4,000 by the DSWD to rent a temporary home from Nov. 15 to 20.

Valte said the assistance from the DSWD was a regular program of the government and not given only during major events such as Apec.

“Iyong pagtulong po ng DSWD ay hindi po limited sa tuwing mayroong malaki pong event ngunit nakikita po natin itong pagkakataon na simulant ’yung pagtulong sa kanila para makapag-transition naman po sila from the streets into dignified living quarters,” she said.

During the Pope’s visit in January, various groups slammed the DSWD for hiding the poor and the homeless at a resort in Batangas.

The DSWD admitted that they brought homeless families to a posh resort in Batangas but was also quick to say that the “outing” was part of government’s program to train the street dwellers.

Social Welfare Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman said under the training, the homeless would acquire a set of living standards different from the norm precisely because they had been living in the streets for a long time. Nestor Corrales/RC