𝐂The City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) has been distributing stickers and pamphlets to Dabawenyos and commercial enterprises as part of its anti-mendicancy campaign in Davao City.
The Anti-Mendicancy Law, also known as Presidential Decree No. 1563, remains a vital framework in the Philippines to combat street begging.
According to the law, begging is illegal, and people who regularly beg may face a P1,000 fine and a maximum four-year jail sentence. Both those who beg and donate, including people who utilize kids to solicit alms, may also face penalty.
Mark Timbang, the focal person of CSWDO’s Children and Youth Welfare Program, said they continuously conduct the campaign to prevent exploitation of children who are either used in begging or are accompanied by regular beggars on public highways.
“Gina-discourage gyud nato na kay ang kalsada dili gyud na para sa lugar panginabuhian [sa pag-solicit], dili siya safe. Mao mana’ng intention nganong naay mga polisiya ug balaod kay dako og tyansa nga madisgrasya ang bata diha sa kalsada (We are really discouraging them since it is unsafe to beg for money on the road. That is the reason why we have policies and laws because there is a high chance that a child will be involved in a road accident),” he said.
“Naa’y uban nakitaan nga naa diay handler nila, naay gasugo sa ilaha (Some have handlers, giving them orders to beg),” he added.
He said they advised against giving money to beggars because they have no idea where the money will go.
“Kay wala man pod ka kabalo nga kato’ng imohang ihatag makatabang ba to, directly ba gyud to niya itubag sa iyahang panginahanglan nga gi-mention sa imo or basin mapalit ba siya didto sa iyahang bisyo kung naa siya’y bisyo (Because you don’t know if the money to you give will be spent on the needs that he mentioned or will go to vices),” he said.
He said Dabawenyos should instead give their donations to public or private organizations that can effectively distribute aid to those in need. CIO
