Groups to storm DSWD for 'hiding' homeless families

MANILA, Philippines - Various people's groups will troop to the main office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to protest the agency's recent move to "hide" homeless families and street children during the visit of Pope Francis in the country.

 

Members of Salinlahi and women's group Gabriela will march to the DSWD office in Quezon City to condemn the alleged malversation of government funds by its officials who brought homeless families to a private resort in Batangas.

 

DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman recently got some flak from people's organizations after news of urban poor families were brought to Batangas and hide them from the pontiff during his five day visit in Manila.

 

Soliman denied such allegations, saying it was only a coincidence that the training for the families who are beneficiaries of the government's conditional cash transfer program was done on the day of the papal visit.

 

The groups are expected to arrive and protest in front of the DSWD office around 11 a.m. today.