PCUP NCR commissioner Rey Galupo discusses partnership during his courtesy call to MPD director Brig. Gen. Andre Dizon. (Photo courtesy of PCUP Public Information Unit: Chelzy Jane Caspe)
THE Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) has manifested plans to initiate partnerships with the Manila Police District (MPD) in an effort to enhance the government’s thrust to extend programs and policies that would provide significant assistance to the city’s urban poor.
During a courtesy call to MPD chief Brig. Gen. Andre Dizon, PCUP National Capital Region (NCR) commissioner Rey Galupo underscored the importance of partnering with the police in all localities to ensure that the rights of the urban poor are respected and protected, especially since Manila has one of the biggest population of informal settler families (ISFs) in the country.
“Kailangan po nating makipagtulungan sa lahat ng ahensya ng pamahalaan upang maging maayos ang ating pakikitungo sa ating mga maralitang tagalungsod kaya malaki ang bahagi ng ating pulisya sa pagpapatupad ng aming mandatong magbigay ng tunay na serbisyo sa publiko, partikular na sa ating urban poor,” Galupo said.
Dizon, on the other hand, assured Galupo that the Manila Police will always support the PCUP in promoting its mandate of serving the urban poor and assist in the agency’s efforts to protect the rights of all stakeholders during demolitions and evictions. “Makakasiguro ang PCUP at ang mga maralitang tagalungsod na ibibigay namin ang suporta at sapat na seguridad sa ganitong mga pagkakataon upang maiwasan ang anumang pang-aabuso o masamang bagay na maaaring maganap,” the MPD chief stressed. Galupo also touched on concerns over the growing number of street-children and out-of-school-youths in Manila, who pose a perennial problem of the city and a challenge to the Marcos administration’s poverty alleviation advocacy.
“Mandato po namin ang magserbisyo sa mamamayan at ipinapangako ng ahensya na gagawin namin ang lahat upang maiugnay o mabigyan ng access ang ating mga maralita sa mga kaukulang ahensya ng gobyerno na magbibigay sa kanila ng mga tulong ukol sa pangkabuhayan, pabahay at relokasyon,” he said.
