ZAMBOANGA CITY, Nov 29 (PIA) -- Around 500 beneficiaries from the Sama Bajau community in Zamboanga City received P10,000.00 each, from the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis (AICS) program as initial assistance for their livelihood.

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Erwin Tulfo personally leads the distribution of assistance on Monday.

Tulfo shares that he is following the directive he receives from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to solve the problem of mendicancy among the Bajaus in Manila.

“The reason why we came here today, is to solve the problem of Badjaus going to Manila every Christmas. I have a marching order from the President to try to face this problem that has been going on since time immemorial. The President wants this solved,” Tulfo said.

According to the DSWD secretary, they are looking into the causes that contribute to the practice of mendicancy, such as the possibility of high profits of up to Php 5,000 and syndicates that house them.

Approximately 300 Bajaus were sent home, to Zamboanga City, Basilan, and Sulu, from Manila last week.

“What the Marcos administration wants to do is bigyan sila ng trabaho. Bigyan ng pamumuhay na ikakarangal nila. So that’s what we are going to do,” Sec. Tulfo added.

(What the Marcos administration wants to do is give them jobs. Give them a life they will be proud of. So that's what we are going to do.)

In his speech, Sec. Tulfo emphasized that the DSWD will continue to cooperate with the local government of Zamboanga to improve the situation and provide a decent livelihood to the beneficiaries; as the agency plans to put up a market for them where they can sell their goods.

Birth registration is also undertaken in collaboration with the Civil Registrar Office of Zamboanga during the distribution of assistance in order to bring the services and other government programs closer to the same beneficiaries.

“The President also heard that they are considered Indigenous Peoples (IP) who do not have birth certificates. Every time they ask for assistance from the government, the government fails to help them because wala silang pagkakakilanlan. So today, we will start here in Zamboanga registering these IPs na wala pang birth certificates,” said Sec. Tulfo.  

The DSWD Secretary said that the Marcos administration aims to register and provide birth certificates to at least half of the population of IPs to include the Sama, Bajau and Yakan, before it steps down in 2028. (RVC/CCP/PIA9 with photos from DSWD-IX)