Beggars and street mendicants started to mushroom in Quezon City major thoroughfares a few weeks before Christmas Day, affecting traffic flow while putting the riding public in danger.
With this, Quezon City officials urged motorists and the public in general to refrain from giving alms to beggars and just course their donations to reputable and legitimate charitable institutions.
Councilor Victor Ferrer Jr. said that his office has received complaints about the rising number of beggars crossing the streets to ask for alms from standers and motorists.
Most of the beggars have been seen scampering along parts of EDSA, Mindanao Avenue and Circumferential Road 5 while others were handing out envelopes to jeepney passengers asking for alms.
Ferrer together with Councilors Allan Francisco and Eufemio Lagumbay also received complaints that even decent looking individuals are passing notes asking for donations on streets, fast food chains and inside shopping malls.
The complaint said that customers mostly in the mall food courts eventually give in just to shoo the pesky beggars or donation seekers away. (Chito Chavez)
