THE Cebu City Government will now issue citation tickets to people giving alms to street dwellers and beggars as part of its intensified campaign against mendicancy.
The Cebu City Anti-Mendicancy Board (CCAMB), composed of City Hall’s different offices, announced during a press conference Thursday, Dec. 22, 2022, that it is now the right time to address the issue of mendicants in support of the Singapore-like vision of Mayor Michael Rama.
CCAMB head Dr. Lucelle Mercado said the presence of beggars in the streets has always been a concern for the City Government, especially during the holiday season and the Sinulog Festival in January.
Under City Ordinance 1631, which was enacted in 1996, giving or begging for alms in public places including private and public vehicles is strictly prohibited.
The ordinance also defines mendicants as “the condition when any person who has no visible and legal means of support or lawful employment neglects to apply himself to some lawful calling and instead uses begging as a means of living.”
Those who will be caught giving food or money to street dwellers will be issued a citation ticket with a corresponding fine of P1,000.
The same penalty will also be imposed on those mendicants who are of legal age, while those who are minors will be rescued by the City’s Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) for interventions.
Hundreds
DSWS head Dr. Ester Concha said their office has identified more than 700 families that are considered mendicants.
“Ang pagpanghatag insakto, apan sa kadalanan dili husto… I think it is the right time nga mag sugod na ta og citation,” said Concha.
(Giving is right, but giving on the streets is not right… I think it is the right time that we start issuing citation tickets.)
Aside from simply apprehending the mendicants, the DSWS will also provide them with the option of going home to their hometowns through the “Balik Probinsya” program.
As for those who do not want to return to their provinces, Concha said the DSWS can provide them with livelihood training so they will no longer return to the streets and beg for money.
Case
Cebu City Transportation Office head Raquel Arce said the City Government will not hesitate to file a case against habitual offenders.
“Kung ma habitual na, subo pamalandungon nga amoa na gyud ipatuman kung unsay naa sa balaod. We will file a case aron ma instill sa ilang huna-huna nga seryoso ang kagamhanan sa Siyudad sa Sugbo,” said Arce.
(If it’s already habitual, it’s sad that we will really now have to implement what is in the law. We will file a case to instill in their minds that the Cebu City government is serious about this.)
Mercado further said that Rama did not give a target date to the board on when the city should become mendicant-free.
Organizations or individuals who want to donate food or goods to mendicants may coordinate with the CCAMB, DSWS, or the Office of the Mayor, said Mercado.