Shelter for homeless families to rise at SRP

Local

CEBU CITY is preparing to open dedicated shelter homes for mendicants and homeless families.

This is part of a strengthened, citywide campaign to pull street dwellers out of risky living conditions and connect them to long-term social assistance.

Mayor Nestor Archival announced on Wednesday, Nov. 26, that the city has designated a portion of the former quarantine center in South Road Properties (SRP) as a temporary shelter site for individuals and families rescued or profiled through ongoing operations of the Cebu City Anti-Mendicancy Office (CCAMO).

“Naay bag-o nga programa ang atong Cebu City Anti-Mendicancy Office (CCAMO). Mao kini ang pagamit ani nga area nga maoy shelter sa mga tawo nga naa sa kadalanan,” Archival said.

He explained that the now-unused quarantine facility had been cleaned and repurposed after CCAMO reported a lack of available spaces for rescued mendicants.

“Kini nga lugar mao kini ang sauna quarantine center… atong gitan-aw nga shelter sa mga homeless. Naa sila diri pero usa sa problema nato kay pagkaon, but since naa may programa ang DSWD,” the mayor added.

The program comes amid heightened efforts to address the growing number of individuals and families living on the streets, part of a nationwide push reinforced by the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Pag-Abot Program.

DSWD Field Office-7 Regional Director Dr. Shalaine Marie S. Lucero said Cebu City has been tagged as a priority area for the program, with more than 400 families identified as living in street situations.

“This is an opportunity we would like to share. Ang DSWD naay bag-o nga program… Pag-Abot Program, meaning reach out,” Lucero said.

Under Pag-Abot, teams conduct outreach, profiling, and assessment of individuals and families on the streets.

“Here sa Cebu City, naa tay na-profile nga more than 400 street dwellers. Mao ni sila ang duolon sa DSWD and i-assess unsa ila kahimtang, and ang goal is to bring them in our transitory shelter,” she added.

The agency’s transitory shelters may house beneficiaries for 20 to 40 days, depending on the assessment.

While housed in the shelters, beneficiaries receive food, medical services, psychosocial support, and case management.

“Ang DSWD ang mo-provide sa medical, food, but ang goal gyud ana makauli sila asa sila gikan,” Lucero said.

The regional director reported that 16 individuals and two families—with seven members—are currently under the program in Cebu City, noting they were invited voluntarily as the operations are “not forced.”

A key goal of the Pag-Abot Program is reintegration. Those assessed as able to return home, within Cebu or in another province, will receive transportation support and other assistance.

“Siguraduhon sa DSWD that they are provided with services first. Naa mi financial assistance for transportation, livelihood, and shelters,” Lucero said.

For those not originally from Cebu City and without a permanent home, the DSWD will assist them in securing rental housing.

“Tabangan nato sila to look for a rent and DSWD will pay the rent for 6 months to 1 year… maximum P10,000 per month,” she added.

DSWD will also coordinate with local government units (LGUs) in beneficiaries’ home communities to ensure proper aftercare and monitoring once reintegration is completed.

The Pag-Abot Program, first launched in July 2023 and institutionalized under Executive Order No. 52, aims to address both immediate needs and long-term root causes of homelessness.

The program has assisted thousands of families nationwide through food, healthcare, education, livelihood support, and family reunification services.

As of December 2024, DSWD data showed:

4,370 individuals and families reached,

3,889 returned home,

P53 million in assistance disbursed for transportation, relocation, and livelihood support.

Its success, Lucero emphasized, is anchored on coordination among national agencies, LGUs, and community partners.(TGP)