Issues on Loitering

“It is called loitering, which is like littering with human beings as the trash” – Neal Shusterman

                 

                 The act of loitering is defined as staying in a public place for an extended period for no apparent reason. There are numerous issues associated with loitering among people of all ages. Prostitution, begging, public intoxication, dealing in stolen goods, drug dealing, scams, organized crime, robbery, harassment/mobbing, and other types of public crime and disturbance have all been historically viewed as an inherent preceding offense. What additional challenges have there been with loitering, outside the problem of loitering during the pandemic?

           

           Before the pandemic, students' loitering culture, which began in elementary school and continued through higher education, was a serious problem. Some students were skipping lessons and refusing to attend school altogether in order to loiter. And this is a bad situation since schools are working hard to produce talented and brilliant people. Education is essential because it shapes the destiny of the youths and contributes to the development of our world. Can you imagine a future where the majority of workers are uneducated? Parents must teach their children not to loiter and to concentrate more on their studies in order for them to become productive and responsible citizens in the future.

             Another problem with loitering is the presence of street children, sometimes known as homeless children. Because these children lack a home or a permanent residence, they are always on the streets, day or night, looking for a comfortable spot to relax or sleep. And it is also called loitering in this scenario. These kids may also labor, play, and spend the majority of their time on the streets. As a result, they are more likely to be involved in car accidents and contract other diseases. Furthermore, because of their circumstances, they have no alternative but to beg for money, and even worse, they will commit any form of crime, such as stealing. As a result, these children may be sentenced to prison simply for attempting to survive.

                    Individuals who loiter, particularly children, may be exposed to a variety of dangers. Even by law enforcement or government authorities, children are frequently robbed, abused, or otherwise targeted. Furthermore, loiters are subject to exploitation by abusers who may sexually assault them, forcibly recruit them into criminal activities, sell them, and send them out into the streets to beg and steal. Finally, while it is wrong to assume that all street children or loiters are drug addicts, some loiters do use substances to cope with the realities of life on the streets, including trauma, disease, hunger, stigmatization, and discrimination.

          There are a lot of problems involving loitering. Parents must constantly discipline their children and teach them proper behavior. In addition, the government must take action, such as enacting rules or laws, to reduce or eliminate the problem of loitering in the country. For your information, Philippines do not have a national law about loitering. Finally, to the youth, I implore you to be responsible and disciplined so that we can contribute to a more peaceful and developed world. Let us not spend our time on trivial activities.