Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte on Tuesday urged newly elected barangay officials to get involved in disciplining “tambays” or loiterers.
Belmonte said the barangay officials could be the helping arm of the police officers to implement disciplinary actions on those who loiter in the streets at night.
“Actually, disciplining community members should be in the hands of the barangays,” she said.
The vice mayor strongly believes that collaboration between police and barangay officials could be instrumental in lightening the already heavy burden of the police.
Disciplinary measures can already be “implemented at the barangay level and no longer at the level of the police officers,” she said.
According to Belmonte, she is now talking to Quezon City Police District Chief Supt. Joselito Esquivel Jr. to clarify the nationwide directive on “tambays.”
“He said the campaign is not actually against loiterers per se but against violators of city ordinances, including for example walking around in public places naked, or gambling publicly, or smoking publicly, or violating disciplinary hours,” she said.
Meanwhile, a total of 337 residents of different barangays in Quezon City received their certificates for completing the three-month vocational skills training program offered by the Quezon City Social Services Development Department.
The Manpower Barangay-Based Skills Training Program conducted by the SSDD Vocational Development Division offers free skills training on food and beverage services, bread and pastry production, dressmaking, electrical installation and maintenance, cosmetology, home care provider, productivity skills and capability building, hilot wellness and massage, and housekeeping.
Graduates commended the city government’s initiative to upgrade their skills sets.
Social Services Department chief Fe Macale said the objective of the city government under the administration of Mayor Herbert Bautista is to uplift the lives of its residents.
The graduates are residents of Barangays Bahay Toro, NS Amoranto, Payatas, Batasan Hills, Commonwealth, Holy Spirit, Socorro, Krus na Ligas, Sta. Monica, Novaliches Proper, Nagkaisang Nayon, and Kaligayahan.