By BOY RYAN B. ZABAL
KALIBO, Aklan — Two weeks after the municipal government here rounded up Badjaos, some of the indigenous people fled to Roxas City in Capiz.
This prompted the Roxas City government to ask Mayor William Lachica to help them convince the Badjaos to return to Mindanao.
“Idto nag a-eagto sa Roxas City, sa Capiz ro iba. Ngani nag-adto ro mga opisyales it Roxas City katon agud makipag-istorya kung anu gin-obra ku local government of Kalibo (Some of the Badjaos went to Roxas City and other parts of Capiz. Roxas City officials asked what the local government of Kalibo did to get rid of them),” Lachica said.
Roxas City officials have also observed the ballooning of the number of Badjaos on their streets, Lachica said.
Here, Badjaos wander on the streets, and cook food and sleep on cardboard boxes on the sidewalks and in front of business establishments.
Their elderly women and children beg for alms, while their men go to houses to sell what they claim as “pearls.”
Officials believe the Badjaos pose sanitation and health risks to residents and tourists, not to mention the reported unruly behavior of some of them.
“Iba pa karun naga-perwisyo sa atong motorista ag pumueoyo it Kalibo (Some of them disturb motorists),” Lachica said.
To address the issue, Lachica issued an executive order creating Task Force Badjao.
The task force involves the Philippine National Police, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Interior and Local Government, Municipal Legal Office, Municipal Health Office, and the Sangguniang Bayan.
Lachica said they were yet to validate with the local police if there are still Badjaos wandering on Kalibo streets.
Meanwhile, Sangguniang Bayan member Augusto Tolentino said a female “dispatcher” of L300 vans on Roxas Avenue, Brgy. Poblacion here was allegedly cajoling Badjaos.
Before they left Kalibo, some of the Badjaos were renting a house in Brgy. Tambak, New Washington town, some seven kilometers east of this town, while others were sleeping near a transport terminal.
Tolentino said the female dispatcher gave them beddings because she “felt pity” for the indigenous people.
He also said he will discuss with the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples the possible enactment of an ordinance that will regulate the entry of mendicants, including indigenous people, in this town. (Aklan Forum Journal/PN)
