By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

Bacolod City Councilor Caesar Distrito said the Sangguniang Panlungsod passed a resolution last week urging the Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD) and the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) to act on the number of rugby boys in the streets of the city.
This comes following instances of theft and snatching allegedly perpetrated by the rugby boys especially along the downtown area.
Distrito said both the DSSD and the police have the responsibility in dealing with the street kids.
He also stated the management of fast food chains also have the responsibility of at least telling the kids to stop sniffing rugby when they are near the business establishments, and if it fails they should contact their nearest police station for assistance.
Task Force Anti-Mendicancy head Gina Castro, meanwhile, admitted it is difficult for them to discipline the rugby boys as most of them are still minors.
She also stressed their office is short staffed as they only have eight people, and they only have one service vehicle.
However, the City has already allocated a budget amounting to P8.694 million in order to deal with street beggars.
Under the program to eliminate mendicancy, poor families will be given P1,800 every month for a period of three years.
The City is aiming to give the benefits to the first 100 families, under the condition that they do not engage in begging in the streets, getting their kids to attend school, and dividing the money for their food and medicine expenses./WDJ