The City Government of San Fernando took home on February 28, 2022 an award from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) recognizing the local government’s rehabilitation program for street children.
“Mendi Camp,” a project under the City’s Anti-Mendicancy Program, was named as a national winner for Best New Social Technology category under the agency’s “PaNata Ko Sa Bayan Awards” (PAgkilala sa NATAtanging KOntribusyon sa Bayan) 2021.
The award is given to local government units and other institutions that made a technology/program improving the lives of the beneficiaries, addressing their concerns in the aspects of culture, needs, rights, and gender sensitivity.
The innovativeness, transparency, sustainability, and replicability of the project are also among the criteria for the said award.Mayor Edwin “EdSa” Santiago, CSWD Officer Aileen Villanueva, and former City Anti-Mendicancy Program Head Claudine Manlutac personally accepted the award during an in-person ceremony in Quezon City.
According to Manlutac, the activity has been an avenue of gift-giving of food and non-food items and alternative learning sessions for rescued mendicants when they gather in a camp twice in a year.
Even during the pandemic, the camp continued through the team’s home visitation to mendicants, hence, learning sessions were maintained.
“Bukod po sa ating ‘Mendi Camp,’ tinutulungan din natin ang mga pamilya ng ating mendicants. Ginawa po natin silang mga benepisyaryo ng local 4Ps [Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program], livelihood programs, at ‘cash for work’ programs ng ating lungsod,” she added.
Villanueva, in her message, said that the six-year-old “Mendi Camp,” has likewise become a regular activity among its benefactors from public and private sectors since its launch in 2016, citing her office’s deep appreciation to their help.
“Our office and the Local Council for the Protection of Children warmly extend their appreciation to the caring individuals and organizations, and present and past workers and focal persons of ‘Mendi Camp’ who continue to help us save our children-at-risk on the streets,” she shared.
“Mahaba-haba pa po ang laban natin upang tulungan, i-rescue, at bigyan ng magandang buhay ang ating mga mendicants. Hindi natin sila pinapanood o binabalewala na gumagala sa mga kalsada bagkos ay may mga programa po tayo para sa kanila,” explained Santiago.
Currently, the CSWDO is conducting at least three mendicant rescue operations in a month. Rescued individuals are brought to the Women and Children Protection Center in Sindalan to undergo counseling.[Photos courtesy of CSWD Officer Aileen Villanueva] (CSF CIO)
