Badjaos removed from Cebu City now in Zamboanga

CEBU, Philippines — Over a dozen Badjaos have been formally turned over by Cebu City’s Department of Social Welfare Services to the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Zamboanga City office the other day.

The Cebu City government spent for the fare of at least 15 Badjaos plus food for the duration of their trip going to Jolo, Sulu, via Zamboanga City.

Aside from that, DSWS also sent two of their staff to accompany the Badjaos to Zamboanga City to make sure they will really go to their hometown.

The DSWS was first alerted by a social worker from Badian Town about the presence of these Badjaos going to Cebu City. These Badjaos reportedly came to Cebu just recently in time for the Christmas season.

DSWS first turned them over to Barangay Mambaling as it is where the Badjao community is.

Badjaos, including women with infants wrapped around them are often seen in Cebu City's busy streets begging for money.

DSWS was then alerted with their activities here that paved the way for a meeting with the Badjaos/Muslim community leaders here on what to do with them especially as the city intensifies its anti-mendicancy campaign.

Among the solutions they came up was sending these visitors back to Jolo.

Before leaving, the 15 Badjaos were made to sign an "undertaking" that they will not come back to Cebu and beg anew. —/BRP (FREEMAN)