Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman said that the street families who were taken to Nasugbu, Batangas participated in the out-of-town activity for their inclusion in government programs, and not because they were being “hidden” during the Papal visit.

“It was not for keeping them out of sight,” Sec. Soliman said. “We do reach out to families even before the announcement of the pope coming.”

The MCCT orientation and registration family camp is conducted annually by the DSWD and its partner LGUs. This activity has been done in Aug 2011, Dec 2011, May 2012, and May 2014.

Some 99 families or 427 individuals from Manila, Paranaque, and Pasay – particularly in areas along Roxas Boulevard to NAIA – attended the activity this year.

“They will be registered in the Modified Conditional Cash Transfer Program for Homeless Street Families (MCCT-HSF) which provides a complete package of assistance to street families, including responsive shelter programs, with access to social services, and economic opportunities for the improvement of their living conditions,” Sec. Soliman said.

Aside from the orientation on MCCT, activities during the five-day event were modular discussion on basic literacy and life skills enhancement for the adults and character building for the children. The adults also discussed topics such as understanding me as a person and as a parent, the difference between men and women, and family relations.

The children, on the other hand, had a lecture and video presentation on personal hygiene, values caravan, and film showing.

There were also recreational activities applying what they have learned from the activities.

Not all street families were taken to Batangas. Many were still present along Taft and MH Del Pilar, Malate to see the Pope during his 5-day visit to the Philippines.

“We cannot hide poverty. We cannot hide it from the pope, it’s here,” Sec. Soliman said.

In the National Capital Region, some 2,479 families have already been registered in the MCCT-HSF since 2012.

Sec. Soliman emphasized that the government’s aim “is to get the street dwellers off the streets, give them decent shelter and employment/livelihood opportunities to ensure that they are given a fighting chance.”

“There are no legal means to get people off the streets, but we believe that majority of street dwellers will change their lives once provided with a little help. Mahalaga na maramdaman nila na tinatrato silang tao ng pamahalaan (It’s important that they feel that the government is treating them humanely),” Sec. Soliman ended. ###