The DSWD-NCR, in partnership with Ermita Malate Business Owners Association (EMBOA) and the Manila Department of Social Welfare concluded the soft launching of the Social Tourism Project for homeless street families at the Plaza Ferguson in Ermita, Manila recently.

 

Under this project, 150 homeless family members monitored in the area will serve as “community facilitators” in five (5) plaza and parks in Ermita-Malate, namely: 1.) Plaza Ferguson; 2.) Sta. Monica; 3.) Raja Sulayman; 4.) Remedios Circle; and 5.) Plaza Salamanca. They will be maintaining the cleanliness of the parks and monitor visibility of street dwellers in the area for immediate referral to the concerned barangay for appropriate action.

 

They will be paid thru the “Food for Work Program” of DSWD-NCR, with initial implementation in Ermita-Malate from December 05, 2014 to January 06, 2015.

 

Another area of partnership is the provision of Cash for Training and Employment for qualified street dwellers by DSWD-NCR for menial jobs in the business establishments of EMBOA members.

 

This initiative is supporting the efforts of EMBOA and the City of Manila to promote Ermita-Malate as the primary business district in Metro Manila as a result of the recent “Multi Stakeholders’ Summit, A Conversation: Ensuring that Street Dwellers are not left behind,” where the EMBOA President and City of Manila participated. ###