City Hall asks for DSWD’s help in ‘Badjao migration’

SOURCE: The Daily Guardian

ILOILO City Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO) head JeckConlu said he sought the help of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in addressing the concerns of Badjaos who keep on coming back to the city to beg.

“Hindi man naton sila mapunggan kay i-ga-violate man naton ang right to travel nila so ang subong ang himuon naton is mangayo kita ayuda sa national government kung may programa kag kung ano pa nga programa ang pwede mahatag sa ila para once and for all, ma-settle ang pagbalik-balik sang aton mga IPs (Indigenous People),” Conlu said.

Weeks ago, the PSTMO together with City Social and Welfare Development Office (CSWDO) rounded up a total of 93 IPs in the Iloilo City.

According to Conlu, these IPs went back to their home province with the help of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG). But almost 50 of them came back and were spotted again in some streets of Iloilo City.

“After assisting them to ride the roll on-roll off ships, wala naman control ang Coast Guard. Posible ga-deretso pauli ang iban sa ila kag iban ga-stay sa Bacolod, 3-4 days, kag balik liwat sa Iloilo,” he explained.

The Badjaos, who thrive as mendicants, usually stay in vacant lots in La Paz and under bridges at Buhang, Jaro, and Pavia.

Conlu urged the public to stop giving alms to the Badjaos and reiterated that the IPs can endanger road safety and public health.

“Ang gina-lantaw naton sini kung malapta kag mabal-an sang iban nila nga kaupdanan, posible nga ma-flock sila sa Iloilo kay nakita nila nga ginasagod ta sila,” he added.

Under City Regulation Ordinance 2002-400, begging and giving alms to beggars are punishable by a fine of P500 or a community service. Mendicants can be fined P500, imprisoned for not more than a year, or both.

“Ang aton city government may mga limitations kag indi na amo kadako aton nga mga resources, so mas mayo gid nga ibalik naton sila sa ila origin kag mas mayo gid nga may intervention sang national government,” Conlu said.

As to the issue of syndicates using the Badjaos, Conlu assured the public that they already requested the PNP to revalidate the information.