Quezon City, Philippines - A family of four, who had been living in a wooden pushcart and depending on alms in Quezon City, is now receiving care from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Assistant Secretary Romel Lopez of the DSWD announced the intervention on Monday, following the family's discovery by the agency's Oplan Pag-Abot.
According to Philippines News Agency, Lopez explained that the DSWD team acted quickly after a TV5 interview on November 10 brought attention to the family's plight. The father, referred to as Juan (not his real name), expressed willingness to work to support his two children and pregnant wife, Juana (also not her real name). The family, after attempting to find shelter in Baguio City with a relative and being turned away, returned to Metro Manila and resorted to begging along Araneta Avenue under the Skyway. The DSWD's Oplan Pag-Abot team has since profiled the family and relocated them to the Jose Fabella Center, a DSWD-run facility, which will serve as their temporary shelter. An ongoing assessment is being conducted to determine appropriate interventions and support for the family, including educational opportunities for the children. The four-year-old daughter of the family is currently receiving medical attention for a broken arm.