AT LEAST 72 Badjaos, who earlier travelled from Bacolod City to Dumangas Port, Iloilo, were sent home to Zamboanga City over the weekend, by the city governments of Bacolod and Iloilo through roll-on, roll-off vessel at the Dumaguete City port in Negros Oriental.
City Administrator Atty. Pacifico Maghari III said Monday, June 26, of the 74 Badjaos who were rounded up by Iloilo City and sent back to Bacolod City, only 72 of them were sent home on Sunday, June 25, with the assistance of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Western Visayas.
He said they were accompanied by four personnel of the Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) and staff of the Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD) going to Zamboanga City.
On June 21, at least 80 Badjaos, who were rounded up by the DSSD in Bacolod City, were sent home to Mindanao through the roll-on, roll-off that docked at Dumangas Port in Iloilo.
Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Trenas expressed his disappointment and declared Bacolod City acting Mayor El Cid Familiaran as persona non-grata through an executive order for alleged lack of coordination in the transfer of Badjaos or sea gypsies.
Maghari said they already directed DSSD head Sally Abelarde to explain, and she claimed that her personnel were only overwhelmed and admitted that they failed to follow some of the protocols in transferring the Badjaos to their hometown.
He said Abelarde also submitted its explanation to Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, who is on official travel abroad, of what happened, where they admitted their lack of preparation and some of the protocols were not observed.
“It’s a simple case of coordination, so the DSSD should coordinate with the City Mayor’s Office (CMO) to avoid a similar incident. What may be acceptable to some may be not acceptable to all, so to leave no room for error, it’s a constant coordination and communication thing,” he added.
Maghari noted that the remaining Badjaos in Bacolod City will be sent home soon to their hometown with proper coordination with the local government unit in Zamboanga.
Maghari disclosed that the anti-mendicancy task force should convene and make a policy to monitor the presence of Badjaos, especially during the MassKara Festival celebration in October.
Meanwhile, Familiaran said that based on the records of the DSSD, of 80 Badjaos, who earlier travelled from Bacolod to Dumangcas Port, only 14 of them were sent back by Iloilo City to Bacolod.
He said the 58 other individuals are not Badjaos from Bacolod City, adding that some of them are minors studying in Estancia and an ambulant vendor in Molo.
Familiaran disclosed that the DSSD has the record of the Badjaos who earlier travelled to Dumangas Port.*