Let us rid the city of “canbals”

There is a growing multi-dimensional problem that is quite visible in almost every major road intersections in the City of Cebu. That nobody seems to take care of it shocks me. Or we must be too kind hearted that we over-extend our level of tolerance. On the other hand, it may be that government is simply clueless and inutile to address this concern or society is hopelessly indifferent. I am referring to the presence of an ever-growing number of ethnic people who mostly assemble uselessly at the sides and corners of city streets. I am told that they are Badjaos and I say this with no offense meant.

The first problem is the most obvious. These Badjaos pose enormous traffic hazards. Each time a public utility or privately owned vehicle stops, these Badjaos dart from the street sides and swarm around. A part of their strategy is to use women who, while carrying infants on their arms, beg. Passengers disembarking from PUJ's or taxi cabs find it difficult to get down from the vehicles because these beggars always choose to stand on the way. They do so until their hapless victims are coerced into giving something.

Also, when traffic is on STOP, their children, mostly young boys, play some kind of gadgetry to unwilling audiences. I cannot find a word in the dictionary that can describe the instruments of noise these kids use so I will coin a word for it. Let me call it "canbals" because they are apparently made out of empty tin CANS and the sound they seem to produce approximates the clashing of cymBALS. Like their women counterpart, these Badjao children, while creating their noise, stand on the exit steps of jeepneys and block passengers from riding or disembarking. Yes, again until annoyed people bribe them with coins to disappear!

There is no doubt that these gimmicks of Badjao beggars result in the impediment of the vehicular flow and traffic blotters attest to the fact that they have caused many an accident.

The second problem is studiously difficult to label. For this article, let me just call it psycho-social. By allowing these Badjaos to reign supreme on our streets, we do not just tolerate indolence. Worse, we dignify it. The able bodied Badjao women can be economically productive. They can be trained to do home industries. Their children can be taught to tend to backyard gardens. There are many things decent to do to earn. Scavenging is far more honorable than the begging these Badjaos do. Yet, what is in the mind of these Badjaos is that they let other people work and pry from these workers pesos with which to buy what they need. What an indecent example!

The third problem is health. What we see everyday need not be described here. For emphasis though, these Badjaos breathe all the smoke that vehicles spew. They put whatever food they have on the dusty sidewalk and eat bare hands. I have not seen anyone of them wash hands before eating. All these are not in accord with the basics of health and sanitation.

The fourth problem should not be stated here. Discussing it violates our Christian upbringing. It is better left to the minds of our leaders. Really, Cebu City is in a competition for investment portfolio holders with other cities. Among the things funders look for is investment climate from a combination of factors not excluding neatness. It is sad to say that the sprout of these Badjaos on our streets belies our claim for investment attractiveness. Their presence exudes poverty and disorder and needlessly repels investment.

Our government is not entirely helpless. I know that it has deep understanding of this emerging Gordian knot and more than enough resources and manpower to tackle it. If, for instance, the Department of Social Welfare and Development developed the Pantawid program, it must have less wasteful but more innovative and perhaps more effective plans for these Badjaos in our city and rid it of the "canbals". This department has just got to move its butts now, not soon. Delay, because it is not very differently spelled from decay, is unacceptable.