Away from the raging cars, strangers fighting violently on streets and demolition team of the Department of Public Service (DPS) from Manila City hall, Rose Marie Ramos, 46 years old, living with her husband Alex Amante Go, 49, and her niece Rea, 9 years old, felt so blessed that their family is now in a safe place called “home.”
Previously spending overnight under Nagtahan Bridge near Arellano University in Manila for 9 years, Rose Marie admitted that they really can’t afford to rent a house at that time.“Talagang wala po kaming kakayahan na umupa ng bahay kasi nagtitinda lang po ako ng mani sa kalsada at wala naman pong trabaho ang asawa ko noon,” (We are really incapable to rent a house at that time since I am just a nut vendor while my husband is jobless), she said.
Recently, Rose Marie’s family has been included among the beneficiaries of the Modified Conditional Cash Transfer for Homeless Street Families (MCCT-HSF) and she is now benefitting from the cash-for-work program aimed to assist the beneficiaries in renting their house.
MCCT-HSF is expansion of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program of the DSWD wherein beneficiaries, similar to Pantawid Pamilya program, have to comply with the conditionalities for them to receive their monthly cash grants for health and
education of the children.
The conditionalities are: the children have to be enrolled in public school and avail regular health check-up in the nearest health center, pregnant mother must also have regular pre and post natal check-up and lastly, the family must look for a rental house where they could keep their children always safe at home.
MCCT-HSF was conceptualized to assist the beneficiaries in renting their house for six months, then leaning on convergence strategies, the Department initiates to make them capable of at least paying half of the rent for the succeeding months through the above mentioned intervention of cash-for-work.
“Nagwawalis ako ngayon sa kalsada malapit sa barangay ng apat na oras bilang empleyado
ng cash-for-work at buti na lang yung asawa ko ay nakakuha ng trabaho bilang taxi driver…
kahit papano alam ko kahit matapos ang anim na buwan ay kaya na naming ipagpatuloy ang
pag-upa sa bahay,” (I am now a street sweeper at the street near our barangay for four
hours as an employee of the cash-for-work and fortunately, my husband recently got a job as a taxi driver… at least now I know that even the 6th month comes, we can now continue to rent a house) Rose Marie gladly articulated.
Rose Marie’s family is now residing at a rented house in Loreto Street, Sampaloc, Manila and now afforded to buy television set and electric fan for their own conveniences.
“Malaki ang pasasalamat ko sa DSWD at malaking tulong na naialis kami sa kalsada. Dati
di kami makabili ng gamit kasi pag dumating ang taga-DPS, binubuhat na namin ang lahat ng gamit na kaya naming buhatin… pag sa gabi naman at may nag-aaway sa kalsada ay binubuhat ko na ang alaga ko at baka magbatuhan ang mga ‘yun ng bote… pag umuulan naman at malakas ang hangin, sobrang ginaw at nababasa kami buong gabi.. ramdam ko ngayon na nasa tahanan na kami kasi ligtas kami” (I am so thankful to DSWD that it is such a big help that we were rescued from the street. Before, we cannot buy our own appliance because when team from DPS arrives, we already hurry to bring anything we can… and at night, when there are strangers fighting around, I’m awakened and carry my niece because they might throw bottle at each other… when it is raining with strong wind, it is really cold on the street and we are really getting wet all night… I can now feel that we are at home because we are safe) she narrated with teary eyes.
Last November 2012, Rose Marie’s family joined the family camp held at Island Cove in Cavite where she confirmed that this event enabled them to experience few days of leisure, far away from the harsh days they used to endure while living on the street. Also, she said that the event equipped them with some family-related skills such as family planning and responsible parenting.
With her niece Rea, who is now in Grade 3, Rose Marie believes that education could be her niece’s armor in her forthcoming challenges in life. Also, making Rea always go to school is part of their compliance under the conditionalities of the MCCT-HSF. “Dahil tila wala na akong pagkakataon pa upang matapos ko ang aking pag-aaral, umaasa ako na maibibigay ko ito sa aking pamangkin… na maliban sa akin, ang aking tatlong (3) anak na nasa Davao at may kanya-kanya nang pamilya ay nabigo ring makatapos ng pag-aaral” (Since it seems like I have no more chance of finishing my studies, I hope I can give it to my niece…who aside from myself, my three (3) children who are now in Davao with their respective families, also failed to finish their studies) she concluded.###