With no one to turn to and with no place to call a home, Valenzuela City took in individuals found dwelling in the streets who were affected by the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) period in temporary homeless shelter.
Another program spearheaded by Valenzuela City this ECQ brought by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), VC Cares extends to help street dwellers – with the “Sagip Kalinga” operations ongoing amid the pandemic.
As of April 13, 11 street dwellers were saved and were housed temporarily at the Pisces Resort and Pavilion, a resort in Brgy. Coloong, Valenzuela City.
The city borrowed the facility to give street dwellers a chance to take a bath and rest until the ECQ was lifted. Meals are also served during their stay.
"They are given a chance to bath and then we house them sa [at the] Pisces Resort [and Pavilion] where we serve them meals, salamat sa [thank you to the] owners ng [of the] resort for lending us their facility," Mayor Rex Gatchalian said in his Twitter post.
“New homeless folks come in from outside Valenzuela will be placed in Pisces Resort and Pavilion,” Gatchalian added.
Moreover, a medical check-up was provided by the City Doctors to ensure the good health and wellbeing of the homeless individuals.
Since 2004, Valenzuela City has a sustained campaign to bring down and prevent growing numbers of vagrants, mendicants, children and adults from frequenting the streets through the "Sagip Kalinga Project.”
The rescued individuals were being assessed by the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) and were usually brought to Bahay Kalinga, an 894-square meter halfway home for abused and neglected children, street wanderers and foundling children.
Bahay Kalinga implemented a “No Visitor Policy” last March 11 due to the ECQ. Pisces Resort and Pavilion shall be the temporary shelter for the new clients.
The CSWDO conducts regular roving and reach out operations to make sure that there are no street dwellers found in Valenzuela City.
With the intensified operations during the ECQ, homeless individuals can be assured of a safe, secured place to stay — giving them hope to pursue a positive road to recovery.
