QUEZON CITY -- Staff from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) are currently at the Manila North Port Terminal to assist some 99 Badjaus who were stranded at the area since January 17.

As of press time,  there is an ongoing distribution of P5,000 financial assistance per family. Distribution of family food packs and personal and hygiene kits to the strandees is  also taking place.

The stranded Badjaus were supposedly returning to their home provinces, but since majority of them are unvaccinated and have lapsed RT-PCR test results, they were not allowed to travel for health and safety reasons.

The City of Manila has already provided initial assistance to the stranded indigenous peoples’ group by distributing hot meals, as well as the facilitation of their vaccination. The DSWD is coordinating with the Manila City LGU if they can continue to provide the strandees with hotmeals until they leave for their hometowns.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) also provided a space in the waiting area/parking area inside the premise of Pier 4 for the strandees. The PPA will also install tents as temporary shelter for them.

In addition, 2Go Travel will facilitate the rebooking of the stranded Badjaus.

Aside from the provision of their food and other basic needs, the DSWD, together with the City of Manila, PPA, and 2Go, is presently conducting profiling of the IPs to determine other interventions that they need. (DSWD)