Jobs eyed for street dwellers

CEBU, Philippines - At least 2,000 identified street dwellers in Cebu City may soon be employed in different private construction companies in the city.

This is through a project coordinated by the Cebu City government and the Department of Social Welfare and Development-7.

Isabelita “Betty” Ganub, executive director of the Cebu City Anti-Mendicancy Task Force, said her office has identified at least 2,000 street dwellers from January to December 2015.

She said street dwellers in the city increase every time the city hosts an event like Sinulog and during Christmas, among others.

Ganub said the city government thanks DSWD for its intervention in helping street dwellers find means of livelihood to keep them away from streets.

She said DSWD-7 is partnering with private construction firms in the city for the hiring of workers. Only those 18 to 50 years old will be accepted for the job, with or without experience.

Based on the list of the city’s Anti-Mendicancy Board, at least 1,555 street dwellers are aged 18 to 53.They will be given P363 per day plus overtime pay with free accommodation or stay-in at the construction-site within Cebu City.

However, Ganub said that only a few of the street dwellers were interested in the offer to work.

“Sugod atong Monday, sige mi’g identify kinsa’y ganahan mo-trabaho. Naa na tay nalista, unom pa man, imagine sa kadaghan nila,” she said.

Ganub disclosed that the street dwellers near the office of Commission on Elections-Cebu City do not want to work, saying that they will just guard the business establishments in the area.

She said the street dwellers gave various reasons why they don’t want to leave the streets. “Mao lagi to nga need jud ang attitude pud. Di lang kay mohatag kag serbisyo but need pud ang ilang attitude ma-change,” she said.

The city government will assist the street dwellers in complying with their job requirements such as biodata, police clearance, and birth certificate.

On the other hand, Ganub believes that there are some street dwellers who have already gone home to their provinces.

“Lisod kaayo pagwagtang. Mao to amo gitawag ang barangay kay patabang mi nila pod. Di puwede nga kami kami ra kay lisod kaayo. Kita nangita gyud paagi nga makatrabaho sila,” she said.

She said barangays have their own council for the protection of children, adding that they should help the city government in the implementation of the projects to lessen the cases of street children. — (FREEMAN)