City anti-mendicancy task force reoganized

The local government recently reorganized the city’s anti-mendicancy task force to help boost the campaign against the proliferation of mendicants, especially during peak tourism months like the Yuletide season.

Under Executive Order No. 166, series of 2025 signed by Mayor Benjamin B. Magalong, the city’s anti-mendicancy task force shall be chaired by the City Mayor and composed of Councilor Edison R. Bilog, Councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda, Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) Director Police Col. Ruel Tagel, Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center (BGHMC) Administrator Dr. Larry C. Haya, Jr., DSWD-CAR Regional Director Dr. Maria C. Aplaten, DTI-CAR Regional Director Atty. Raymond G. Panhon, DILG City Director Millicent Carino, PHMA–Baguio Chapter Executive Manager Christine Gina D. Camsol, City Health Officer Dr. Celiaflor Brillantes, City Persons with Disability Affairs Officer Samuel Aquino, Councilor Rocky M. Aliping, Arnel Gabang of Victory Liner, Nelson Dela Cruz of PARTAS Transport, Rey Quinto of Solid North, Randy Salvador of Genesis Transport, Cosme Flore of APMA Van Transport Association , John Paredes of Pines City Federation of Persons with Disability, Inc., Jefferson M. Cheng of AZCKO barangay, Eladio Ortenero of Kabayanihan barangay, Marcelo Acupan of Harrison-Claudio-Carantes barangay, Franco Cordovis of Kagitingan barangay, Zenia C. Monteclaro of Session Road-Gov Pack Road barangay, Imran Banaga of Malcolm Square barangay, Melinda Cabaya of Sto. Nino-Slaughterhouse barangay, Prescilla Dacanay of Upper Magsaysay barangay, Lerma Biagtan of Kayang-Hilltop, Bishop Jerome Baris of the Lingap Pangkabataan, Inc. and representative of the Baguio City Cooperative Development Office.

The task force shall adopt, implement, monitor, and evaluate plans and programs that shall realize the policies of objectives of Ordinance No. 44, series of 2023, Presidential Decree No. 1563 and including international instruments or policies geared towards the rehabilitation or personal development of the mendicants; adopt and implement the Integrated Network of Appropriate Services to mendicants based on their assessment and feasibility needs as identified by the task force and the secretariat; coordinate and facilitate with offices in the local government, other government agencies and the private sector for the immediate support services to the mendicants; institutionalize a center of communication and data of mendicants, including the compilation of documents, such as plans and programs, related on mendicants; mobilize and sustain citywide information and education campaign in coordination with the government and private sectors for the development approach and self-development of mendicants and perform other functions necessary or incidental to the realization of the said ordinance.

The secretariat shall be headed by the City Social Welfare and Development Office and staff from the offices of the local government engaged on the mendicancy issues and concerns where it shall institutionalize the database system, documents, programs and services and matters pertaining to mendicancy and safekeeping of such documents for availability; prepare communications and documents, documentation of the meetings, and come up with minutes to the task force’s meetings; support in the regular coordination and facilitation of the services feasible to be availed by mendicants for their personal development; adopt a referral system and that it shall serve as the focal persons for the same in coordination with other offices in matters related to mendicants; sustain coordination with the various offices until the conclusion of the issues brought in relation with mendicants issues and concerns; recommends activities or programs to the task force based on their experiences encountered in the pursuance of the programs for mendicancy; forward to the local government any findings and recommendations to mendicants appended in the city for perusal and actions and perform other tasks needed for the daily and regular realization of services and self-development of mendicants. – Dexter A. See