The Departments of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) are collaborating to establish temporary shelters for Families and Individuals Living on the Streets (FISS).

On Thursday, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian and DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar discussed the provision of housing units that can be used as temporary shelters for FISS.

As part of the DSWD's Oplan Pag-Abot Program, Gatchalian suggested that FISS could reside in these shelters while social workers process their return to their respective provinces.

"The shelter assistance is intended for individuals under the Oplan Pag-Abot program, specifically those who do not have a place to stay in their respective provinces after having been shunned by their families," the DSWD Secretary noted.

The meeting resulted in the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to formalize the partnership between the two agencies.

According to DSWD's data as of July, the program has reached some 38 families — composed of 113 minors and 111 adults.

The program aims to reach out to people living and staying on the streets and give them the necessary and suitable interventions to meet their immediate and long-term needs.