Wednesday, November 14, 2007 Editorial: Aetas and almsgiving
A "MENDICANT," as described by Presidential Decree (PD) 1563, is any person, 15 years or younger, "who has no visible and legal means of support, or lawful employment and who is physically able to work but neglects to apply himself to some lawful calling and instead uses begging as a means of living."
The law prohibits and penalizes mendicancy. It may be against what Christians call as almsgiving -- providing material assistance to the needy or transmission of some temporal commodity to the indigent. But as the legal phrase goes, Dura lex, sed lex (The law [may be] harsh, but it is the law).
In the capital City of San Fernando, it was reported that about 30 Aetas, including children, have occupied a vacant lot and are currently resorting to begging. They blame the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991 and the alleged insufficient governmental support for what they do. They even describe as "heartless" the Department of Social Welfare and Development's (DSWD) advice for them to just return to their mountain villages.
In the past years the DSWD and local government units were in the forefront of campaigns against mendicancy by Aeta highlanders. In 2001, for instance, hundreds of Aetas were picked up from the streets of Metro Manila and other urban areas. Most of them came from the mountains of Pampanga, Tarlac and Zambales. But the Aetas still returned to cities and progressive towns every year after that.
DSWD officials knew that it is not in the culture of Aetas to beg. They stated in previous reports that the natives had learned to beg only after the eruption of Mt. Pinatubo, which not only devastated their farms and means of livelihood but also displaced them from their ancestral villages.
Through various programs, which include Sagip Kalinga sa Katutubo, the government discourages Aetas from begging. It offers them food-for-work programs and other livelihood opportunities. But, of course, it is not for us to say whether or not enough of these pro-poor programs are being extended to our Aeta brothers and sisters. Perhaps the government should also note if its programs have shortcomings.
We definitely adhere to the principle that it is the obligation of every Christian to give alms to the poor and the needy. But we also agree to the DSWD's contention that if alms have to be given to Aetas, it would be much better to course them through church and charitable institutions that have more organized programs to help the Aetas.
Aeta mothers and fathers should not bring their infants and minor children in crowded city streets and expose them to accidents and other risks. The Yuletide season is not an excuse to violate the law and to exploit young ones just to earn a little cash.
The law mandates local government units to provide "socio-economic programs and establish operating units including reception and action centers, sheltered workshops, constitute homes and other facilities for mendicants." Under the same law, the Department of Health must "provide the necessary measures in meeting the health needs of mendicants." Other agencies, like the DSWD, must also re-assess their livelihood programs for the Aetas, if only to prove that they provide sufficient livelihood support for them.
We're sure that there are charitable and civic organizations out there that are willing to share their blessings and resources to the upland settlers.
