The former COVID-19 quarantine facility at South Road Properties (SRP) in Cebu City is set to become a shelter for homeless families and individuals, marking a significant repurposing of pandemic infrastructure.
New Shelter Initiative for Street Dwellers
Mayor Nestor Archival confirmed on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, that portions of the old quarantine compound have been cleared and renovated to accommodate individuals profiled by the Cebu City Anti-Mendicancy Office (CCAMO). The mayor announced that CCAMO has launched a new program utilizing this area as shelter for people living on the streets.
This initiative comes in response to earlier concerns raised by CCAMO about overcrowded holding areas for rescued street dwellers. While daily food support remains a challenge, the city has coordinated with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), which has a national program addressing homelessness.
DSWD's Pag-Abot Program Expansion
Dr. Shalaine Marie Lucero, DSWD 7 Regional Director, identified Cebu City as a priority expansion site for the Pag-Abot Program. This initiative is designed to locate, profile, and assist individuals and families living in public spaces.
More than 400 street dwellers have been profiled in Cebu City, according to Lucero. These individuals will be approached by DSWD for assessment, with the goal of bringing them to transitory shelters. Currently, sixteen individuals and two families totaling seven members have been enrolled in the program.
Lucero emphasized that participation is voluntary and not through forced removal from public areas. Beneficiaries can stay in transitory shelters for up to 40 days, receiving food, medical assistance, psychosocial services, and case management before reintegration.
Comprehensive Support Package
The Pag-Abot Program offers substantial benefits for families willing to leave street life. Each qualifying family can receive:
- P10,000 financial assistance
- P10,000 medical assistance
- Transportation and relocation support
- Rental subsidy up to P10,000 monthly for six months to one year
- Up to P150,000 for home repair (for landowners)
The long-term goal is safe and sustainable reintegration, with DSWD ensuring services are provided first before financial assistance.
To sustain and expand the program, DSWD 7 has requested the Cebu City Council to authorize Mayor Archival to sign a memorandum of agreement, following an executive session presentation on September 16. This agreement would formalize Cebu City as a pilot expansion site, enabling coordinated funding, referrals, transportation assistance, and rental subsidies.
Lucero clarified that the program complements rather than replaces the city's Balik Probinsya initiative. Institutionalized under Executive Order No. 52 and first launched in July 2023, the Pag-Abot Program has already assisted 4,370 individuals and families nationwide, helped 3,889 return home, and released P53 million in transportation, relocation, and livelihood assistance.
However, social workers in Cebu City have observed recurring cases where families return to the streets due to unstable income or lack of long-term housing, highlighting the need for sustained support beyond initial assistance.
