For “Ed,” a 50-year-old from Bulacan, life had been a series of difficult journeys — from humble beginnings, to harsh labor in distant provinces, to surviving the streets. But thanks to the concerted efforts of the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) of Bislig and the Pag-Abot Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Ed’s journey has finally brought him back home to his family.
Born in Quezon City in 1975, Ed grew up in Bulacan and took on various odd jobs to survive, from dishwashing to selling bananas. In 2005, driven by the hope of better employment, he moved to Mindanao. He worked in a banana plantation in Bayugan City under strenuous conditions and later transferred to Cateel, Davao Oriental, where he became a farmer and trysikad driver.
It was in Cateel that Ed briefly experienced a sense of family, fathering four children with his partner. But that hope was short-lived. Betrayed and left by his partner — who took their children to Bohol — Ed’s life unraveled. In 2017, seeking a fresh start, he moved to Bislig City, but found himself locked in the same cycle of hardship, surviving day-to-day as a trysikad driver with barely enough for his basic needs.
Ed’s situation worsened in early 2025 when he was invited to drink alcohol mixed with an unknown substance. Soon after, he suffered from disorientation, memory lapses, and erratic behavior, which led to him being mocked and dismissed as mentally unstable. For days, he wandered the streets of Bislig, vulnerable and lost.
His turning point came on February 12, 2025, when the CSWDO of Bislig City rescued him. They provided temporary shelter in Barangay Mangagoy, daily meals, and coordinated with the City Health Office to ensure he received mental health care, including regular injections that helped stabilize his condition.
Upon learning of his desire to return home to Bulacan, the Pag-Abot Program of DSWD Field Office Caraga stepped in to assist. On July 9, 2025, the program facilitated his safe return to Del Monte, Bulacan, providing ₱10,000 in financial assistance, transportation, and relocation support. Today, Ed is under the DSWD Region III – Pag-Abot Regional Program Management Office (RPMO), which monitors his reintegration and connects him to further services.
The Pag-Abot Program is the national government’s response to the plight of individuals and families in street situations. Anchored on the goal to reach, recover, and reintegrate Filipinos who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, Pag-Abot provides immediate interventions such as rescue, psychosocial support, financial assistance, and sustainable reintegration mechanisms. The program envisions ensuring that every Filipino has access to protection, support, and the opportunity to reclaim dignity and stability.
Ed’s return to Bulacan is not just a homecoming — it is a second chance at life. His story is a testament to how local government units, health services, and national programs like Pag-Abot can work together to change the narrative for Filipinos who have long been left behind.
