Jobs in countryside seen to address mendicancy problem

If there were more jobs in  the countryside, this would wipe out the problem of mendicants in urban areas for good, especially in Cebu City.

“Not only mendicants but also migrants,” said Roselyn Zosa, head of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO).

Zosa said the Capitol  intends to develop eco-tourism in the countryside by capacitating local communities.

The province earlier identified seven towns in Midwest Cebu as pilot areas for the community-based eco-tourism project namely, Aloguinsan, Pinamungajan, Balamban, Asturias, Tuburan, and Tabuelen, along with the City of Toledo.

Around P240,000 is allocated for trainings covering all the participating local government units.

READ: Massive roundup of Cebu city mendicants comes ahead of APEC

PSWDO will be co-sponsoring the trainings with the Provincial Tourism Office, set to kick off in the first week of September this year.

Communities will be taught how to develop their own tourism products, bringing in more employment and  income for rural families.

Provincial Tourism Officer Grace Paulino, in a separate interview, said the project will be taken up by the Provincial Tourism Commission in a meeting on Friday.

She said that the issue on mendicants may also be brought up.

The Cebu City government has initiated a plan to round up mendicants on the streets in time for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings later this month.

Last Tuesday, Acting Gov. Agnes Magpale urged Cebu City to be careful in handling  women and children who are  rounded up from the streets as part of the preparations for the APEC meetings.

She said she hopes the city government will follow  protocols on dealing with minors.

The Cebu City Anti-Mendicancy Board assured that  proper protocols on rescuing mendicants, specifically street children, will be followed.

Mayor Jonas Cortes of Mandaue City already said he would  not be hiding street children from APEC guests.

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza said street children in her city won’t be a problem during the APEC meetings.

She said even before the upcoming meetings, the City Social Welfare and Development (CSWD) and the Women and Children’s Protection Desk (WCPD) of the Lapu-Lapu City Police Office (LLCPO)were rounding up street children, bringing them back to their families.