The Department of Social Welfare and Development – National Capital Region (DSWD-NCR) engaged the Social Welfare and Development Agencies (SWDAs) and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) from City of Manila in ensuring the successful implementation of the Oplan Balik Bahay, Sagip Buhay (OBBSB) which aims to address the prevalence of street families in the metro particularly in Quezon City and Manila, held at Ramada Manila Central on August 20, 2015.
The OBBSB, through the Modified Conditional Cash Transfer for Homeless Street Families (MCCT-HSF), provides interventions to children of street dwellers such as education, health and financial assistance for house rental and livelihood assistance to eventually help them sustain their house rentals.
Mr. Froilan Maglaya, Social Welfare Officer IV and OBBSB Regional Focal Person explained that OBBSB, is not just a project or a program, but a strategy that will put together all different sectors of Manila – schools, hospitals, businesses and CSOs, to work together with the Department in this initiative.

He also emphasized the importance of proper case management to determine who are eligible to receive interventions and services. He recounted a story with a street dweller, “I asked him why he is on the street and then he replied that he is working as ‘mangangalakal’, but he has a home. With this, I realized that not all the people who are in the street are homeless, some of them choose to stay on the street for a living.”

With the assistance of SWDAs and CSOs, the Department is very positive on the fruitful outcome of this project especially for the families and children at risks. “Malakas ang tawag ng hamon, kailangan nating magtulungan.” Assistant Regional Director Jacel Paguio enthused to the participants. ###