THE Davao City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO) rounded up 45 indigenous peoples (IPs) since it started its campaign of clearing the city of beggars and loiterers in October, this year.
CSSDO Administrative officer IV Necitas Dalope said on Tuesday that more than half of the reported number of IPs “rescued” by the Quick Response Team for Childen’s Concern (QRTCC) were children ages 1-month old to 16-years-old.
She said some families who are coming from different provinces were referred to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Davao Region.
“In the round-up, these are individuals found out loitering on the streets,” Dalope said, adding that those who will beg, especially children, are being monitored by their team.
“Gina-advice gyud sila na dili mag-sige sa streets kay basin maligsan (We advise them not to loiter on the streets as they might get into accidents),” she said.
Dalope, however, said some IPs do not listen and still beg on the streets even if they are not allowed, like the 18 families from Kapalong.
With the upcoming Pasko Fiesta, CSSDO announced that IPs in Marilog, and Paquibato, among others, will still be able to participate in the activities as the city will be the one to bring the event to their place.
City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO) head Generose Tecson said the initiative aims to allow the IPs in far-flung areas to participate without needing to come down and risk their safety and security.
Earlier, CSSDO head Malou Bermudo said they will not be providing shelters for IPs coming to the city. Instead, they will be sending them back to where they come from in coordination with local government units.
“Mao na karon, if you notice, gina-balik-probinsya gyud nato sila. And even prior to this, we have coordinated a close meeting with them [LGUs] (That is why right now, we make it sure that they go back to their provinces. And even prior to this, we already had a coordination meeting with other LGUs),” she said.