ANGELES CITY – A series of city-wide inter-office saturation operations will be conducted by the city government here to rescue displaced families, homeless street children and mentally-challenged individuals starting this October.
This activity is in line with Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin Jr.’s goal to prioritize the safety and welfare of Angeleños, ensuring that no one will stay out in the cold streets of the city, especially this coming holiday season.
Lazatin’s Chief Adviser IC Calaguas said and Executive Assistant IV Reina Manuel will supervise the rescue teams formed from members of the City Social Welfare and Development Office led by Edna Duaso; Angeles City Tourism Auxiliary headed by Michael Lising; Gender and Development Office led by Mina Cabiles; and representatives of the Angeles City Women and Children Protection Center and Angeles City Police Office.
In an initial operation, nine individuals – 6 women and 3 men – were rescued along Barangays Malabanias and Balibago and returned to their families.
“May ipinamigay din po tayong mga food packages para sa kanila bago natin inihatid pauwi,” Manuel said.
According to Duaso, all children, elderly, individuals, and families who will be rescued will be reintegrated into their families.
“May interview at assessment pong ginagawa ang mga social workers natin to identify them,” she explained.
If they are from the city, they will be returned to their homes; if not, they will be turned over to the city’s custody centers – the city-run Bale Puso for abandoned elderly and the Kanlungan ng Kabataan for the youth.
“Yung mga street families naman po, pinapahatid po sila ng city government kung saan po sila residente,” Duaso added.
“We were also instructed to have them tested first for COVID-19 to ensure everyone’s safety,” she furthered.
It can be recalled that even before the start of the pandemic, the city government has already conducted a number of rescue operations, specifically helping homeless street children and families, and mentally-challenged individuals to return to their homes.
