A silent but deepening crisis continues to unfold on the streets and sidewalks of Cebu City. What was once viewed as a seasonal issue has transformed into a complex and persistent problem, highlighting the harsh realities of rapid urban development and economic inequality.
The Roots of the Crisis: Urbanization and Displacement
The sight of families sleeping on pieces of cardboard along major roads like P. Del Rosario Street is a daily reminder of this struggle. Experts point to a widening "affordability gap" as the core driver, where soaring property values and urban development push low-income earners completely out of the formal housing market. Many are caught between two impossible choices: living in perilous informal settlements by riverbanks or seeking refuge in the open, yet dangerous, spaces of the city's main thoroughfares.
This pressure is compounded by both private sector expansion and essential government projects, such as the "War Against Flooding" initiatives, which often displace communities without immediate alternatives.
A Shift in Strategy: From Clearing to Caring
A significant policy shift began recently, marking a move towards a more humanitarian response. The Cebu City local government, in coordination with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), has repurposed former quarantine facilities at the South Road Properties (SRP) into temporary shelters.
This action is part of the DSWD's "Pag-Abot" program and represents a critical transition. The focus is shifting from simple clearing operations to a "transitory" approach that provides not just a roof, but also meals and profiling services. The goal is to break the ineffective cycle of "rescue and release" that has long failed to address the underlying causes of homelessness.
The Double-Edged Sword of Ordinance Enforcement
However, challenges remain, particularly regarding the Anti-Mendicancy Ordinance. While the city aims to keep sidewalks clear and safe for public use, the ordinance's enforcement—which can impose fines on both those giving and receiving alms—risks criminalizing the state of poverty itself.
This creates a delicate balancing act for authorities. The mission to "clean up the streets" must not simply mean making the poor less visible. True progress requires ensuring that enforcement is paired with accessible, dignified, and legitimate alternatives for the city's most vulnerable residents.
The situation in Cebu City underscores a urgent national conversation: how to ensure that urban progress and development include all citizens, leaving no one behind on the cardboard sheets of the sidewalk.
