ILOILO City – The city government won’t be providing livelihood to mendicant Badjaos or giving them houses. The priority for these programs are the poor residents of this city, stressed Mayor Jerry Treñas.
“I really do not know what to do with them here. But we are coordinating with the Department of Social Welfare and Development and Philippine National Police para nga they do not become a danger to themselves,” he added.
Treñas previously requested the police and National Bureau of Investigation to verify reports that criminal syndicates could be behind the proliferation of Badjao beggars here.
“Unahon naton nga hatagan sang livelihood kag balay ang taga diri gid. Kadamo pa kita gani sang backlog,” said the mayor.
In fact, added Treñas, the city government is still scouting for additional relocation sites.
He defended his administration’s position that it is much better for the Badjaos to return to their places of origin in Mindanao.
“Diin mo sila paistaron diri? They have to go back to where they came from. This is also for the safety of their children. We do not even allow our Ilonggo children to roam around,” said Treñas. “Kon may maipit sa ila sin-o manabat?”
Badjaos here are known to climb jeepneys and beg money from passengers.
“I don’t have anything against House Deputy Speaker Mujiv Hataman but you know, we take care of our own people. We make sure no one gets hurt here,” the city mayor stressed.
Hataman, the last governor of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, had criticized the city government’s plan to round up Badjaos.
While the security concerns vis-à-vis these Badjaos are manageable, Treñas said many Ilonggos, especially jeepney passengers, have been complaining that the beggars would threaten or badmouth them if they refuse to give money.
“Ang akon ya, we have to protect also Iloilo City,” said Treñas.
The other day, Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO) chief Jeck Conlu denied that the Badjao beggarss were being contemptuously banished from this city.
They were in fact being rescued from the streets where they’re exposed to danger, according to Conlu.
In fact, he said, “During our rescue operations, ga-request sila nga buligan balik sa ila origin.”
According to Conlu, the one that should primarily address this are the local governments of the places where the Badjaos came from. They should help their people, he stressed.
The Badjaos themselves disclosed to the PSTMO that they were being taken for granted by their local governments and this was why they were looking for other areas where they could earn a living, he added./PN
