THE UniTeam is committed to providing every Filipino an equal opportunity and a fighting chance in life including those who are living in the streets.

Presidential aspirant Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos, Jr. said that if given the mandate in this year’s elections, the UniTeam plans to intensify the government’s program for “homeless people” to give them roof over their heads and keep them off the streets.

Based on research undertaken by The Borgen Project in 2020, there are an estimated 4.5 million “homeless Filipinos,” or those living in the streets.

Of the said number, 250,000 of them are children, who were displaced owing to unemployment, domestic abuse, human trafficking, and poverty that have forced them to stay in the streets.

According to Marcos, the government has an existing program for homeless people like free education for street children, the only concern is that many of them continue to flee and return to the streets.

He recommended that the program’s implementation be strengthened.

“Maganda ‘yung programa ng ating pamahalaan para sa mga kababayan natin na nasa lansangan, payak ngunit maayos naman ‘yung mga pasilidad na kanilang pansamantalang tinitirhan, ang problema lang ay mas pinipili pa rin ng iba na tumakas at manirahan sa lansangan,” Marcos said.

“Siguro ‘yung mabagal na pagpapatupad ng mga ipinangako sa kanila ang isa sa dahilan kung bakit bumabalik sila sa lansangan, tulad na lamang ng pabahay at mga trabahong para sa kanila,” he added.

The Partido Federal ng Pilipinas (PFP) standard bearer added that if elected, he will speed up and improve on the program’s implementation.

He also plans to add the availability of psychological assessments, training at TESDA, and liaise with private companies, government agencies, and local government units (LGUs) to immediately give them jobs.

“Isa sa nakikitang paraan ay pabilisin ang pagpapatupad ng programa, gusto ko rin pagtibayin ang psychological assessment para masiguro na maintindihan nilang mabuti ‘yung magandang hangarin ng pamahalaan sa kanila,” he continued.

“At siyempre para sa ikakaayos ng kanilang sitwasyon, i-train natin sila sa TESDA, makipag-ugnayan tayo sa mga pribadong kumpanya, ahensya ng gobyerno at LGUs para agad na mabigyan sila ng trabaho pagkatapos ng kanilang training,” the PFP standard bearer added.

He also suggested that the homeless people must also be assured that family members remain together in the same facility to maintain their bond and encourage them to look after the welfare of each other.

“Siguraduhin din natin na magkakasama pa rin sa pasilidad ‘yung mga pamilya para maiwasan ‘yung pagka-depress at stress na syang dahilan ng pag-iisip ng hindi maganda at pagtakas sa mga pasilidad,” he stated.

Marcos added that homeless people will be taught how to manage a small business properly so that they may earn sustainable and more stable income when they choose to leave the facility in the future.