Kalibo town faces alarming number of Badjaos

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

In Kalibo, the number of nomadic Badjaos who make a living by begging for food and money has increased significantly for some years now.  

                                                                 PHOTO UCANEWS

Although there is no exact number of Badjaos in this town, they practically live, roam and sleep in the streets and sidewalks of Kalibo on cardboards. 

Badjaos, most of them women in early 30s and their little children, are also constant picture in public markets, tricycle terminals, and business establishments begging for alms to fend their hunger.

Young Badjao men also knocked on the gates of the houses, all day begging for alms from the residents, to survive the harsh urban life. Worst, there were reports also of unruly behavior of some Badjaos.

To address the continued presence of Badjaos, the local government of Kalibo through mayor William Lachica has recently created Task Force Badjao by virtue of Executive Order No. 012 series of 2014.

The task force is mandated to hold dialogue and consultations with Badjao leaders and to coordinate with government agencies to address the problem. 

The task force Badjao, chaired by Mayor Lachica, has members composed of municipal legal officer, chief of police of Kalibo police station, municipal social welfare and development officer and the municipal health officer.

Other members of the task force are Sangguniang Bayan committee chairmen on social welfare and on peace and order, municipal local government operations officer and the executive assistant of Mayor Lachica.

These natives Badjaos or known as sea gypsies can be found in many coastal settlements of the Sulu archipelago in Southern Mindanao, but they fled to big cities as far as Baguo City, Bicol and Metro Manila primarily due to harassment of poachers and sea pirates.