THE National Commission on Indigenous Peoples-Davao Region (NCIP-Davao) is discouraging anew IPs from coming down to Davao City during the Christmas season due to health and safety reasons.
"Sugod pa sa una, ato naman ginahimo nga kung mahimo, dili na sila manaog, didto na lang sa ilahang area para secure and safety sila (From the start, if possible, we are discouraging them from going to downtown, and instead they remain in their area for security and safety purposes)," NCIP-Davao Director Mumar Mamukid told the media on Monday, October 24.
Mamukid said he has not yet issued any written appeal to the local government units (LGUs) in the region, but he said he is hoping that they would help the IPs in discouraging them from going to the city.
The NCIP official said the city government had also discouraged IPs from the Marilog District from going to the downtown area, and instead, it is the local government who will be going to the barangays and giving them Christmas pahalipay or gifts.
Throughout the years, IPs from far-flung areas had been roaming around the city to carol and beg for money along the streets this Christmas.
City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) head lawyer Marlisa Gallo, in the previous reports, had been discouraging them from going downtown.
On September 14, the Davao City Police Office (DCPO) rescued 21 individuals at the Agdao Flyover.
In a press release from the Women and Children Protection Desk (WCPD) of the Davao City Police Office (DCPO), a total of 13 adults and eight minors, all indigenous peoples (IPs) from Talaingod, Davao del Norte, were rescued.
According to authorities, the rescued individuals "were found begging, utilizing the streets as their source of income while using their children to make a living."
The operation was in coordination with the Mobile Patrol Unit, and the Quick Response Team for Children's Concern of the City Social Welfare and Development Office. RGL