Do you give to beggars?

[Falcon Cara 378]

This is one of my pet peeves, people coming up and asking money.

 

Davao City seems to be the worst, even Manila they are not that bad.

 

By law it is illegal for Forgieners to give money to beggars, but as normal the law isn't enforced.

[Cyberfx1024 7,978]

13 minutes ago, Falcon Cara said:

This is one of my pet peeves, people coming up and asking money.

 

Davao City seems to be the worst, even Manila they are not that bad.

 

By law it is illegal for Forgieners to give money to beggars, but as normal the law isn't enforced.

Wow, I did not know that law at all. 

 

The only time I give money to beggars is when I am in my asawa's home town on market day. This is because this is because that day is when the Lumad come in to town and go house to house begging for money. I really hate it because I go to the market to look at things and get bombarded by the child, then the mother, then another one of the children one after another to get money from the only white guy in town. They can do this because Davao Metro shuttle allows them to ride for free around the region. 

 

The vendors hate it as well because they keep bothering me when I am looking at stuff to buy. I have had vendors basically tell them to scram because they wanted my business. 

Edited May 27, 2019 by Cyberfx1024

[Redheadguy03 505]

There's a law against it due to child prostitution and things like that. I've never heard of it being enforced, but for that reason I don't give to them. If my wife wants to she can. 

[coa24 69]

On occasion my wife gives, but rarely do I for many reasons. 

[bowens44 213]

Yes, I do. Not only in the Philippines but also in the US. I don't understand why people with so much are so opposed to sharing an occasional peso or dollar with those who have so little.

[Cyberfx1024 7,978]

2 hours ago, bowens44 said:

Yes, I do. Not only in the Philippines but also in the US. I don't understand why people with so much are so opposed to sharing an occasional peso or dollar with those who have so little.

Because more than half the time it is a organized racket going on. 

[Carpe Vinum 2,310]

Usually I don't. But there are some...especially the elderly...that I have a hard time walking away from. We were walking into the Intramuros and a fit but dirty teen asked me for money. When I said no he told me to "F%^&$ Off" with a pretty good Australian accent. It made me laugh out loud. He thought I was crazy)))

[Unlockable 7,306]

2 hours ago, bowens44 said:

Yes, I do. Not only in the Philippines but also in the US. I don't understand why people with so much are so opposed to sharing an occasional peso or dollar with those who have so little.

 You may be sincere in your statement on helping others but the above worded statement could be misinterpreted as an insult. People are NOT opposed to sharing with others. The actual truth is that "people with so much" actually DO give to those less fortunate. It is just in a different way. For example, because of the collaboration with the company I work for and big named charity organizations, I give a small percentage of my paycheck to 3 different charities. And I have been doing this for almost 15 years. But if you saw me in another country not giving to a beggar on the street you would think that I am opposed to sharing. So that is an unfair statement to make.

Whether or not a person disapproves of it, it is the right for anyone to choose whether to give or not. That being said, if a person does not give, it doesn't mean they are bad. But to my point, Americans giving to charities are on a constant incline. https://nonprofitssource.com/online-giving-statistics/

 

The biggest difference between donating and giving on the streets is that most people would like to know what and where their money is going. That is why most give to charities instead of strangers on the street. It gives them a sense of awareness to know exactly who, what, and how they are helping. Many times, people who give to strangers on the streets feel like they may be contributing to the beggar's drug habit or being taken for a scam (https://www.tripsavvy.com/india-beggars-and-begging-scams-1539144). Even if it is small change it is not as satisfying as giving to an organized charity.

 

Also, it is one thing to have a couple of people in the streets approach you but it is another to be constantly bombarded with beggar's with every turn. This leads to uncomfortable and unsafe situations like assaults, theft, scams, and even kidnapping. Unsafe conditions can disrupt businesses and prevent tourist from enjoying their travel. India has a huge problem with street begging where it has led to a high rate of child kidnappings that force the children to beg on the streets for their abductors. People see these children and think "they are young and innocent so it is not a bad thing to give them money" but the truth is by giving they are contributing to the problem (https://in.reuters.com/article/india-trafficking-children-beggars/traffickers-in-india-force-300000-children-to-beg-in-streets-police-idINKCN0YN4VJ?irpc=932).

 

My wife's country also have a problem with street hustler's (beggars/window washers). I too have had a bad experience with a beggar or two in her country, including one who kicked the fender of her car. It is not a good feeling. Tourism is huge to the Dominican economy so if begging gets out of hand the police will actually arrest them. This is because if tourist don't feel safe, they will not come to the area.

[MarryMe987654 241]

14 hours ago, Falcon Cara said:

By law it is illegal for Forgieners to give money to beggars, but as normal the law isn't enforced.

Giving to beggars is not just illegal for foreigners but to everyone in the Philippines.

Philippines has the Mendicancy Law of 1978. Yep, it's that old but I have not seen it enforced (just like any other laws in the Philippines).

 

Sources:

• https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1003588
• https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1978/06/11/presidential-decree-no-1563-s-1978/

[2018JNJ 141]

I sometimes give water, food, or clothing..but never money.

 

jj

[Falcon Cara 378]

23 hours ago, 2018JNJ said:

I sometimes give water, food, or clothing..but never money.

 

jj

I will give the kids food, especially if I can't eat it, they will take care of eating the rest.

 

My opinion is that many of the young kids are part of syndicate that has them go out and beg for money and will probably let the kids have 10% and they keep 90%, I wouldn't doubt if they gave the kids rugby instead of food to keep them working.

 

I also have a fair number of grown adults who will stand there with there hand out when they see me, I have zero tolerance for them.