The Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor (PCUP) is looking to partner with the Manila Police District (MPD) in an effort to enhance the government’s thrust to extend programs and policies that would provide significant assistance to the city’s urban poor.

PCUP National Capital Region (NCR) commissioner Rey Galupo, in a courtesy call to MPD chief Brig. Gen. Andre Dizon, noted the importance of partnering with the police in all localities to ensure that the rights of the urban poor are respected and protected.

Manila was chosen since it has one of the biggest populations of informal settler families (ISFs) in the country.

“We need to coordinate with all government agencies so that we can properly look after our urban poor. Our police play a big part in implementing our mandate to provide real services to the public,” the PCUP official said in a statement released on Monday.

On the other hand, Dizon assured Galupo that the MPD will always give its support in promoting its mandate of serving the urban poor.

The MPD chief also vowed to assist the agency’s efforts to protect the rights of all stakeholders during demolitions and evictions.

“The PCUP and the urban poor can be assured that we will provide support and adequate security in such instances to prevent any abuse or bad things that may occur,” the MPD chief added.

Galupo also talked about regarding the growing number of street children and out-of-school youths in Manila, who pose a perennial problem of the city and a challenge to the Marcos administration’s poverty alleviation advocacy.

“It is our mandate to serve the people and the agency promises that we will do everything to connect or give access to our poor people to the relevant government agencies that will provide them with economic assistance, housing and relocation,” he said. (PNA)