The Department of Social Welfare and Development – National Capital Region (DSWD-NCR) encouraged the public to help in addressing the cases of street dwellings during the simultaneous conduct of Advocacy Walk for Oplan Balik Bahay Sagip Buhay (OBBSB) under the Modified Conditional Cash Transfer for Homeless Street Families (MCCT-HSF) program held today in Quirino Grand Stand in Manila and Quezon City Memorial Circle in Quezon City, respectively.
“Lahat tayo ay may magagawa upang mabago ang buhay ng mga pamilyang nasa lansangan. Kung sakali mang makakita tayo ng batang nasa kalye o pamilyang nakatira sa bangketa, maari nating i-refer kaagad sila sa ating mga barangay upang mabigyan ng karampatang tulong,” Regional Director Ma. Alicia S. Bonoan said.
Bonoan also acknowledged the collective efforts of the Department’s partner local government units, barangays, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), and other stakeholders, to ensure an improved quality of life of our partner-beneficiaries.
Further, Nenita Nunez, a Modified Conditional Cash Transfer for Homeless Street Families (MCCT-HSF) program beneficiary recounted her life when she used to live on the streets.
“Noong nasa kalsada pa lang kami, hindi kami makatulog ng maayos, lalo na kapag may nanghuhuli. Lagi din kaming takot na baka masagasaan kami ng mga sasakyan. Sobrang hirap po talaga ng buhay namin,” she shared.
“Pero isang araw, tinulungan kami ng DSWD. Naging benepisyaryo kami ng MCCT-HSF kung saan nakakatanggap kami ng tulong pang renta sa aming bahay para hindi na kami maging palaboy sa kalsada,” Nenita added.
“Ngayong may bahay na kami, nakakatulog na kami ng maayos. Kapag umuulan, may bubong na kaming masisilungan. Tuwang tuwa din kami nang matanggap ako bilang isang Street Facilitator kasi may pinagkukuhaan na kami ng panggastos sa pang-araw-araw. Nakakabili na rin kami ng masusustansyang pagkain at mga gamit sa bahay. Marami pang magandang pagbabago ang hatid ng program hindi lang sa akin kundi sa aming pamilya. Patuloy kaming magsusumikap para maitaguyod namin ang aming buhay malayo sa kapahamakang dulot ng kalsada” she emphasized.
During the advocacy walk in Quezon City, the DSWD-NCR also reached out four (4) homeless families who are residing within the Quezon City Memorial Circle and were assessed for possible registration to the MCCT-HSF program.
OBBSB is a strategy of DSWD-NCR under MCCT-HSF which aims to address the prevalence of street dwellers in major thoroughfares in Metro Manila, specifically in Manila and Quezon City through the united efforts of LGUs, NGAs and barangays with the Department’s assistance in strengthening the Barangay Council for the Protection of Children. ### (FO-NCR, Social Marketing Office)