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MEASUREMENT ON THE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS THROUGH

HABILITATIVE SERVICES OF MENDICANTS UNDER PRESIDENTIAL
DECREE NO. 1563 IN BRGY. 176 CALOOCAN CITY: BASIS FOR
INTEGRATION PROGRAM

A Thesis
Presented to
The Faculty of the College of Liberal Arts
University of Caloocan City
Vicas Congress, Caloocan City
__________________________
In Partial fulfillment
Of the Requirements for the Degree
Bachelor of Arts
Major in Political Science
__________________________
Submitted by:
Closa, Maria Felisa
Elpedes, Rogielyn
Gallos, Laurenzo David
Macatuggal, Veniece
Salvador, Mark

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Contents

Page

Title Page i
Table contents ii
Chapter I

the Problem and its Background

Introduction ... 3
Background of the study ..................... 4-5
Statement of the problem . .. 6
Scope the study and limitation ...7
Significance of the study. ..... 8
Definition of terms .... 9
Chapter II

Review of related studies

Foreign related studies..10-11

Local related studies.11-12
Review of related literature
Foreign related literature..
Local related literature..
Chapter III

Methods of Research

Data gathering.
Population ..
Statistical treatment

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Tabulation formula needed

Introduction
Poverty, is one of the problem in the Philippines that since then, has no
specific or concrete solution to resolve. The people cannot denied to each
other, that the problem in poverty will cause another problem, and one of
this is the issue on rising number of mendicants, or beggar in different parts
of the country.
Those mendicants are found begging on a public places like roads,
sidewalks parks, and bridges

by means of living. For their actions,

mendicants will probably breeds crime, create traffic hazards, endangers

health, and exposes them to indignities and degradation.
By this issue, former President Ferdinand Marcos created the
Presidential Decree No. 1563 or Establishing an Integrated system for the
control and eradication of mendicancy, providing penalties, appropriating
funds therefore, and other purpose. This law is also known as the Anti
Mendicancy Law of 1978. This decree is applied to all mendicants,
exploited infants. Those children who are found begging, vagrant and

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habitual mendicants or those who are convicted of mendicancy for two or

more times.
The Purpose of this law is to promote the social justice and protection of
life, property and dignity of the citizens endangered by rampant
mendicancy. Under the PD. 1563 The government should provide the so
called Habilitative services.
One of the agencies of government which handled the habilitative
services is the department of social welfare and development, and they
provide

the following

programs for street children and families. : 1)

Creation of activity centers in cities and municipalities; 2) Balik-Probinsya

Program; 3) Day and night minding centers; 4) Camping activities for street
children; 5) Livelihood programs; and 6) Educational support for children.
This decree was designed To provide services for mendicants to meet their
basic needs and to develop their reliance; to keep them away from begging,
from cause of criminality and traffic hazard on major roads and highways
and from indignities and degradation.
However, the law has a clear mission and vision but why most of the
people are ignorant about this law. What are the factors on why they are not

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informed regarding to the contents, programs, function, and also to the law
itself.
In response to this, the study propose to conduct research to know the
deeper Reason on the lack of awareness of the people in Caloocan City,
particularly in Barangay 176 on the conditions of mendicants in the
Philippines and what are the habilitative services provide under the PD.
1563.

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STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

1. How aware are the respondents in the government program such as:
A. Education;
B. Health;
C. Employment?

2. How effective are the performance of the local government In the

following terms:
A. Services;
B. Assistance?

3. What is the level of awareness of the respondents on the

mendicancy law as to:
A. Penalty;
B. Liability;

4. What enhancement program suggested the integrated policy?

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HYPOTHESIS
Large numbers of people residing in Barangay 176 are not fully aware
regarding on the Programs, Services, Penalties and Liabilities provided by
the Government for the mendicants, and the PD. NO 1563 are not effective
in terms Habilitative services.
SCOPE AND DELIMITATION OF THE STUDY
The scope of the study is within the area of Barangay 176, Bagong
Silang, Caloocan City, due to a large number of people residing in this area.
The selected person who are in the age of 18 years old and above in
the area, and willing to answer the following question to be given in the
survey will be the subject of the research.

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SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

This Research was significant to the following:
Residents, to inform them about the reality of life that there are a lot of
mendicants that need to save especially to the exploited infants or young
beggar.
LGU (Local government unit), being one of the in charge to give care and
comport to the mendicants by providing them a habilitative services which
stated on the PD. 1563.
Mendicants ,Being a subject to this research. All mendicants has a right to
grant the benefits or be included to the services and program of the
government to keep them away on streets and other public places.
To Researcher, the goal of this research is to give awareness and
knowledge regarding to this topic.
And to Future researcher, you can use this researcher as a basis for your
own research , and make you inform on the conditions/ situation of
mendicants and to be aware on the benefits and programs of government to
help those mendicants.

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DEFINITION OF TERMS
Mendicants
Any person who are physically fit to have work but they choose to beg
by means of living.
Exploited Infant or Child
Any young children who are spread out on different public places and
begging by means of living.
Education
One of the programs of government to provide educational assistant to
any person especially to those poor person.
Employment
One of the programs of government to provide work or job to any person
to make them financially stable.
Health
Any person must have a healthy body to keep them away form any
diseases.

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CHAPTER II
This chapter includes the following related studies and related literature
both local and foreign research.
Related studies
Foreign related studies
Begging is a social problem has not only a psychological consequences
such as the development of inferiority complex in the beggars family
members and the network of kinship, but also problem of begging will affect
as an unpleasant problem, the geographical and social structure of the
urban areas(namwata;mgabo;2012). The problem about poverty will not
stay as one problem but it will produce more, one of this is the problem
about rising number of mendicants. It is really a complex problem of the
society because they will destroy the public order and security of the states.
Mendicants are those people who are capable to have work but they
choose to beg by means of living. Those mendicants are created their own
family, and they will stay at the public place and build their home, occupy
some public places to stay as long as they want, Because of indignities, the
emotional appearance of the mendicants will be affect and it maybe leads to
self pity.

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There are many types of mendicants spread in a public areas. One of

this are so called vocational beggars-or the one who are use to beg to gain
money as just like they have a work. That large number s of vocational
beggars flood in the cities, which affect the life of city residents and disrupt
public order, which become city governors have to face. How to seek for a
balance a point between functional departments of government faced and
solved imperatively. Te author thinks that the embarrassment encountered
in management of the vocational mendicancy behavior is basically caused
by the malposition, even the conflict during the transportation and
adjustment of our national law (Jmao; 2009). Because some mendicants
are desperate to earn money without having a decent work, many of them
are still begging and make themselves pity, so that many people are giving
money to them. Because of the behavior of mendicants the life of other
persons and even the public order are disrupted. According to the author,
those mendicants has a freedom to have work, but all freedom or rights has
limitation, because of their action the authority or the government (both
local and national) should limit their action. They should enforce the national
law, especially to exercise the police power of the state to prevent from

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disposition and maintain the organized and peaceful environment of the

areas.
The conditions of mendicancy in the world are really a complex problem.
It is big problem because even an innocent child are used for this kind of
business, Forced child begging involves forcing boys and girls to beg
through violence, the threat of violence or other forms of physical or
psychological coercion. This extreme form of abuse and exploitation, and
the current lack of action by governments to tackle it sensitively and
effectively, is particularly troubling because the children involved are clearly
visible to everyone on the streets of cities around the world. Research
suggests that children are trafficked into begging in Asia, Europe, Africa and
Latin America (Delap;2009). Mendicancy is an obvious problem that not
only the Philippines can experience, around the world, mendicancy behavior
are widespread. Because of the desperation of the mendicants to earn
money, they used the young child as a tool for this, forcing, threat and
violence are involved. The innocent children are the most affected to this
kind of situation. The government are the most really needed to fight against
mendicancy and to punish the wrong doing of the mendicants.

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The machinery and instrumentalities of every country is their

government. The role of the government is a bringing general welfare to
each and every citizen under their territory. The prime responsibility of the
nation is the provide basic amenities and facilities to its people and to raise
their quality of life (khan; hasan; menka; Husain; nazmul;2014). All people
should have an equality in every aspects of their lives, no matter what are
the conditions of them the government should protect them and guide them
and provide satisfaction to their citizens especially for the women, exploited
child and elderly mendicants. The salvation right is an important
constitutional right for them. Our government and society should pay
attention to their existence surrounding and ensure their salvation right.
Authentically by corresponding legal and institutional measures, ensuring
beggars salvation right in the inwardness of constructing harmonious
society (YL Du; 2008).

Local related studies

In our country, many problems may be determined by means of lack of
foods, clothes and shelter. The widely crisis of traffic or transportation, but

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employment opportunities remain low, so as a substitute, for some, begging

is rise and mendicancy has become a way of life.
Many beggars now resort to acting and even use of infants as a props.
These are those who pretend to be mute and hand out piece of paper
asking for alms.( nenafilipina.jpg;2008). This mind set of the beggars leads
to poor mentality to beg in the streets exposing them to accidents and other
risks (lawas;2008) that is why, Poverty is one of the evident reason why
mendicants exists, and the easiest way to gain money , just in able to
survive, is begging.
This how they see our society nowadays, moreover the DSWD office
created task force which is responsible for rescuing, giving assistance and
rehabilitating the mendicants, in the city(Samuel et al; 2008) but not all can
fully feel those benefits, or organization etc, Because our government is
lack of funding and due the shame magnitude of the problem, the
government power to influence the situation and to protect the innocent is
limited.
However, theres a need to protect people from abusive beggars given
instances when these beggars had gone, rowdy, and split on those who

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would refuse to give(Luistro;2014). Some of us, experiencing these

situation, they become aggressive, just to fulfill their needs, In a very
wrongful act, that others might hurt. As a result, mendicancy are being
used for criminal activity (Esplana;2014)
Although, some cities in the country can successfully implementing the
anti-mendicancy policy, including Calamba laguna, and Lipa city. Councilor
Joel Pua said, they are preparing for it. And Mayor Lopez of Cebu who is
the one aggressive to drive of mendicants. It seemingly give impression
that PD 1563 or Anti-mendicancy is not fully implemented, and the
measurements on the conditions of mendicants regarding to the
rehabilitative services are not fully effective.

Related literature
Foreign related literature
The ruling, released Wednesday, allows the North Coast town to
enforce the ban under only two narrow circumstances: near unenclosed
ATM's and on public transit vehicles. The college town long has been a
magnet for vagrants, who congregate on its New England-style central

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plaza. And officials long have struggled with how to address the oftenannoying requests for money, booze or pot. Passed by the City Council two
years ago, the sweeping ordinance banned aggressive panhandling a
stance that was not challenged in court (Romney, 2012). The article proved
that begging has a threat in the security of citizens. There are instances that
if the person cannot give what the beggar is looking for, they are getting to
be aggressive. And sometimes they are hurting them. People are afraid for
their security because of some beggars who are using some weapons if
they are not getting their satisfaction. Police officers have problems with the
beggars. Every time that they were rescued, they are escaping from the
rehabilitating facilities and they are going back to the street to beg.
Most people in the world are decent and charitable in their hearts so the first
knee-jerk response is to give something to help. But theres a problem.
There are so many people with a cup asking for help that one is
overwhelmed and afraid of their motives. Will the money be used for
alcohol? Or a meal? For bus or cab fare? Will it be used for a room for the
night? Potential philanthropists are confused by both motivation and
outcome (Karash;2010) Most people of this days who are giving alms are
confused and doubted if the money that they give to the beggars will be use

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to buy their foods, their clothes, etc. There are beggars who use the money
they received from other people to buy alcoholic drinks. Sometimes they
used it to buy drugs.
Unlike their predecessors in the seventies and eighties, many of these
new beggars arent helpless victims or even homeless. Rather, they belong
to a diverse and swelling community of street people who have made
panhandling their calling. (Malanga; 2008) People who are used begging
as a means of living are those who has a physically able tow work. But they
neglect to do such lawful employment to sustain their needs. Unlike those
who doesnt have capacity to do such lawful calling, they refuse to exercise
their physical capability to work.
They found that although they could not outlaw panhandling, they could
write an ordinance that pertained to what police call "aggressive
panhandling, which weighs public safety against free speech.The same
rationale that people dont have the right to yell "Fire! in a crowded theater
is the same reason Oklahoma City can put time, place and manner
restrictions on panhandling, McCool said. Aggressive panhandling, a
misdemeanor, is a jailable offense, McCool said, but the biggest problem
police have is that they cant make an arrest unless panhandling happens in

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the officers presence (Johnson; 2008) Beggars are restricted in different

places where people are gather for an important event, for the reason that
they can harm people if they
become aggressive. Police have the right to arrest them if they are making
scandalous gestures and harming people around them. It is the way of
preventing them to do such harmful gestures.
Beggars also rent babies from their mothers each day, to give their begging
more credibility. They carry these babies (who are sedated and hang limply
in their arms and claim they have no money to feed them. (Cook; 2016)
Some beggars are using infants to beg money. It is a means of child
exploitation. Often times, the infants are not their legitimate child or relative.
They rent babies to make their begging credible and effective.

Local related Literature

Poverty is one critical problem that the country continues to face.
Although figures show that our economy is growing, more and more
Filipinos still consider themselves poor, and that is not difficult to prove.
Roam around the streets of Metro Manila and you will see beggars, children

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selling goods, unsightly shanties or families living under the bridge. With
many Filipinos living below the poverty line and with very few employment
or livelihood opportunities, some become desperate and resort to begging.
(Tiongson;2012)

There are many people who are physically capable to work who neglect
their responsibility instead they only support their selves by begging to other
people. The mendicants usually gather to the places with high number of
people, because of this the authorities alarm the people by those
mendicants who beg to them. The authority tell the people that if ever they
see mendicants roaming near them they should tell the authorities so that
they can take action by taking the mendicants into custody and if they can,
they can also help them by giving them support(Express News Team; 2015)

Mendicancy breeds crime, creates traffic hazards, endangers health and

exposes mendicants to indignities and degradation, the law states.

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The main purpose of creating the law is to stop mendicancy, prevent the
exploitation of infants and children through mendicancy and to provide
rehabilitative services for those already exploited or in immediate danger of
exploitation( Borromeo;2013)

Begging can be use for wrongful act. Like for example, some mendicants
uses the money that they have collected to buy cigarette, alcohol, drugs,
solvent/rugby etc.. This is the reason why mendicancy can make criminals.

The new administration, must not be naive, of this widespread crisis of our
country. Today, we must act consciously and responsible for this matter.
Poverty is not a tooth ache, that whenever it aches, you're going to take
medicine just to relieve the pain, but the thing we doesn't even know is we
must kill the root of pain.

.Clean must start first with the government officials before they can help the
country to alleviate poverty (Heart, 2014)

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Chapter III
Research Methodology
This chapter presents the research Design, Population, Sample size and
Sampling Technique, Description of Respondents, Research Instrument,
Validation, Data Gathering and the Statistical Treatment Data.
Methods of Research
The method that the researcher used in the study is Descriptive
Method. Descriptive method as described by Frankel and Wallen A type of
study that finds an answer of question who, when, where and how. And
according to Serillo, Descriptive Method is design to gather information
about present existing conditions.
By employing this method, the researcher will be able to describe the
nature of the situation as it exist of the conduction of the study and explore
of the causes of the particular phenomena that could be presented.
Population, Sample Size, and Sampling Technique

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The respondents of the study are residents of Barangay 176, Bagong

Silang, Caloocan city. Simple Random Sampling was used for the
convenience in gathering respondents since the researcher collects from
one or more elements of the population.

Description of the Respondents

The primary source of data will be the questionnaire developed by
the researcher and distribute to the respondents in Barangay 176, Bagong
Silang, Caloocan City. Secondary data will come from articles, dissertation
and online resources; Observation will be another source of data. The direct
observation of the respondents will help the researcher for the analysis of
the data and give weight to the veracity of the answer to the questionnaire.
And to generate the desired data and information, the researcher
constructed questionnaires which compose of the following:

PART I Demographic Profile of the Respondents

Part II the questions raised to measure the effectiveness of presidential
decree. No.1563, Known as anti- mendicancy law of 1978 and the status or
condition of mendicants on the habilitative services under PD. NO 1563.
Statistical Treatment of Data

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The following statistical tools will be used to analyze and interpret the
qualitative data. For the computation of the items in a group that is favorable
to the respondents.
Percentage will be obtained by dividing the total frequency to the total
number of respondents multiplied by 100
The formula for computing the percentage is given below:

P = ----------X 100

Where:
P = percentage
N = total number of respondents
= constant number
Frequency distribution method will also be used in this study. This will
be done by listing all the necessary data about the respondents
demographic profile and tallying their answer on the survey questionnaire.

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Dear Respondents,
Greetings!
Please be informed that the researchers are conducting the study about
the measurement on the economic conditions through habilitative services
of mendicants under presidential decree no. 1563 in Brgy. 176 Caloocan
city: basis for integration program in the connection with this, we would like
to ask your participation in answering the questionnaire we prepared.
All the information you will provide are necessary in our study. Without
your cooperation, the study will not progress. Kindly fill up the questionnaire
with honesty. Rest assured that the anonymity and all your information will
be keep in confidential.
Thank you very much! God bless you!
Very truly yours,
The Researcher
____________________________________________________________

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Instruction: Please fill the necessary information on the space provided.

Part I. Demographic profile
A. Name:_______________________________________(optional)
B .Gender: male

female

C. .Age:______
Address:_________________________________________________

Directions: in scale of 1-5, rate each of the following based on your

personal awareness in terms of:
CLASSIFICATION:
(5)-Strongly aware (SA)
(4)- Aware (A)

(2)-Not aware (NA)

(1)-Strongly not aware (SNA)

(3)- Neutral (N)

1 How aware are the respondents in the government program
such as:
A EDUCATION

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SA

NA

SA

NA

SNA

1.The government provide free education for

the mendicants
2.The government encourage the mendicants
to

be

part

on

the

educational

assistant/programs
3.The government provide a higher level of
education for the mendicants
4.The

government

give

free

vocational

courses such as (TESDA, and Alternative

learning system)
5.Educational Assistance to the Children of
Mendicant Parents
B HEALTH
6.The

government

assistance

for

provide

mendicant

medical missions etc.

7.The
city
government

the
by

medical

conducting

provide

free

consultation and give free medicines

8.Government monitor the situation

of

mendicants in terms of early pregnancy

9. The Government prioritize health

of

exploited infants or young mendicants.

1
SNA

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C.EMPLOYMENT
10.The

government

provide

SA

NA

SNA

financial

assistance for the mendicants who are

incapable to have work
11.The
government
provide

livelihood

programs and services for the benefits of

mendicants
12.Self Employment Assistance (SEA)

2 .How effective are the performance of the local government in the

following terms:
A. SERVICES/ASSISTANCE

SN

A
13.The Caloocan City Government conduct
programs such as feeding programs, medical
missions, seminars for livelihood, free
educational assistance by giving scholarships,
and allowances or financial support for the street
children and/or families

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II.Directions: in scale of 1-5, rate each of the following based on your

personal knowledge about the effectiveness in terms of :

CLASSIFICATION:
(5)-Strongly aware (SA)

(2)-Not aware (NA)

(4)- Aware (A)

(1)-Strongly not aware (SNA)

(3)- Neutral (N)

3.What is the level of awareness of the respondents on the

mendicancy law as to:
A. PENALTY

SN

A
14.. A mendicant as defined in paragraph (a)
section 3 hereof, shall, upon conviction, be
punished by a fine not exceeding P500. 00 by
imprisonment for a period not exceeding 2 years

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or both at discretion of the court.

15. Exploited infants or minors found begging will
shall be committed to the custody and care of the
Department of Social Services and Development
or to any duly licensed placement agency or
individual.

4.What enhancement program suggested the integrated policy?

_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_____________________________________________

I hereby certify that the above information are true and correct to the best
of my knowledge and belief

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