BACOLOD City Acting Mayor El Cid Familiaran has ordered Sally Abelarde, officer-in-charge of Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD), to rescue the Badjaos begging for alms in the city’s major thoroughfares.
“We should rescue and place them in one area so that they will stop loitering around, and we will send them to their hometown,” Familiaran said Wednesday, June 21.
He said it has been observed that before the MassKara Festival celebration, several badjaos travelled here and begged for alms.
“We are so generous, but we should not tolerate them. If we will not give them money, they will stop loitering around and they will leave the city,” he added.
Familiaran noted that Badjaos have their own leader, and in the afternoon, their leader will collect their money.
“So, they were exploited, and it’s not a good practice,” Familiaran added.
He said the DSSD should get the data and educate the Badjaos so that they will stop begging on the streets.
He added that the city government has an existing ordinance establishing an integrated program for regulating mendicancy, providing penalties.
The anti-mendicancy law forbids begging or soliciting charitable donations by the poor or religious organizations in the streets.
Those who are caught giving alms will be fined P50.
Familiaran also tasked the DSSD with conducting an education and information campaign in the downtown area as well as in the barangays to encourage the residents not to give alms to the Badjaos beggars.
Familiaran disclosed that most of the Badjaos are using their babies for begging on the street and inside jeepneys, and it’s very dangerous for their safety.
For his part, Colonel Noel Aliño, acting director of Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), said they will coordinate with the DSSD to rescue the Badjaos in various areas of the city.
He said the DSSD should help them gather all the Badjaos begging on the streets.
“We already discussed this problem, but we lack facilities for the Badjaos so we can send them to their hometown,” he added.
Aliño disclosed that they should gather the data of the Badjaos so that they will have a record at the BCPO.*