Stop mendicancy

By Christine Barrete

Along the streets of Colon in Cebu City, a number of homeless children approach a passerby, extend their hands and say, “Ate para palit pan (ate, for me to buy bread)”.

This practice is known as mendicancy. It is when a person depends on begging to live. For years, this has been a common scenario not only in Cebu City, but in the whole Philippines at large.

There was a time when my friends and I were in Sto. Rosario church, a middle aged woman approached us. At first, we thought she had something to ask because she showed us a document until we realized that all she wanted was to beg for money.

Although it is really pitiful looking at such scenario, I can’t help but reflect on whether or not it is really acceptable to give them money.

 The Philippines has an Anti-Mendicancy Law known as Presidential Decree No. 1563 which was passed by the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos on June 11, 1978 that penalizes both the almsgiver and the beggar.

Section 3, par. 3 of the law defines A mendicant as a " person who has no visible and legal means of support, or lawful employment and who is physically able to work but neglects to apply himself to some lawful calling and instead uses begging as a means of living.”

Being poor is not a crime; however if asking for alms is tolerated then they’ll continue to be dependent to people who are willing to give despite the existence of the anti mendicancy law.

The opposite will happen if people abide by the law. Beggars will be left with no choice but to find for a better job where they get better pay. Also, street children will no longer be forced to beg thus, exploitation of children will be eradicated.

To help solve mendicancy, the government should create programs that will help the street children. Government should give them a place to stay where one can grow productively and in turn will help the country in the future.